“Cows do not belong in fields.”
Nocton Dairies Representative*
If Nocton Dairies have their way, Lincolnshire could soon be home to a so-called ‘super dairy’. Located just outside the village of Nocton, the farm’s giant sheds could house more than 8,000 cows, kept indoors for most of their lives.
In 1967, dairy farmer, Peter Roberts founded Compassion in World Farming in response to the wide-scale emergence of factory farming. In Lincolnshire in 2010, his rallying cry against the unnatural confinement and suffering of farm animals is needed more than ever.
The proposed construction of the UK's largest dairy farm poses a giant threat to animal welfare and all those who believe that humane and sustainable farming is the only viable way to feed our planet.
The plans have given rise to widespread objections by local residents, politicians and animal welfare organisations. Over 172 Members of Parliament signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion (EDM 1037) opposing the ‘super dairy’ and echoing the concerns of local residents. Compassion in World Farming submitted its own planning objection to the scheme.
Help us prepare for a long fight
We are gearing up for a long battle. Because, whatever decision the local council eventually makes about Nocton Dairies, there will be much to do. The farm’s backers seem determined to introduce a US-style intensive dairy system to the UK, and others will no doubt follow in their wake. We are absolutely determined that this should never happen.
New developments
Nocton Dairies have temporarily withdrawn their application following a meeting of the District Council Planning Department. The applicants were told they needed to consider how to improve concerns over environmental controls and highways issues.
“While welcoming this postponement, this sadly doesn’t mean that the Nocton Heath proposal has gone away. However, it represents a significant victory for local residents and all those concerned for the wellbeing of farm animals. We shall all continue to argue that the project is bad for Lincolnshire, bad for UK farmers, and bad for farm animals.”
Joyce D’Silva
Director of Public Affairs, Compassion in World Farming
The campaign is far from over. The applicants have already bought the land for their industrial-scale dairy, and they are not simply going to walk away. We expect them to submit revised proposals shortly, and we must be there to fight this factory farm every step of the way. Discussions on a new timescale are ongoing, and we will update you on new developments as they happen.
Top 5 reasons why Nocton’s proposed "super dairy" is a very bad idea 
The cows will be virtual indoor milking machines, rarely allowed out to graze
Bred for very high milk yields, these cows are at higher risk of lameness, loss of body condition and infertility
Traditional dairy farmers are likely to go out of business, unable to compete
The countryside will be devastated with huge sheds and daily HGV intrusions
Pig and chicken factory farms already spell disaster for animals, people and the planet. Widescale factory farming of dairy cows would be a further step in the wrong direction.
Read our full refutation of their animal welfare and environmental case >>
Intensive dairy farming - the reality
These photographs from 2005 were all taken by Compassion in World Farming during previous undercover investigations into intensive dairy farming in the UK. Click on any image to start a slideshow.
Unnatural zero grazing
Access to grazing pastures provides the natural food of ruminant animals such as cows but in Nocton’s planned American-style, high yield system, grazing will play a very limited part in their diet, with the cows allowed out only in the short period between lactations and their next pregnancies.
Nocton dairies are calling the enterprise "a flagship for the next generation of the UK dairy industry". Yet Compassion in World Farming believes that the thousands of animals involved in these highly intensive indoor systems would be under such pressure to produce huge quantities of milk that they will be at risk from health problems such as lameness, poor body condition and infertility. Cows at this level of productivity are also at high risk of a short lifespan. Even if these problems can be avoided by really professional management, the cows will have to be kept indoors, as grazing on grass cannot reliably provide enough nutrition to maintain their high levels of milk production.
Wasted Calves
These extremely high yielding dairy cows will inevitably produce some male calves which are generally considered economically unsuitable for beef production. Sadly, male dairy calves are usually either shot at birth or, if the trade resumes, exported to low welfare veal farms outside the UK.
Nocton Dairies have said that they will not be shooting male dairy calves. However, the farms they buy their young cows from are likely to need to. Even if calves are not shot at Nocton Dairies, they are dependent on a system which produces male calves which are unlikely to be reared for beef.
Footage from a zero grazing system in the UK
Intensification
Over the last fifty years, dairy farming has become more intensive to increase the amount of milk produced by each cow.
Around 22 litres per day is typical in the UK. If they were producing just enough to feed their calves, this would be about 4 litres a day.
The thin end of the wedge?
In addition to animal welfare concerns, factory farming raises serious environmental issues. Both the excessive amount of fertilisers used to produce the animal feed on which large-scale industrial farms depend and the vast quantities of animal waste which these farms generate are potential sources of soil, air and water pollution.
Factory farming also poses a very real threat to rural life and the livelihoods of dairy farmers in the UK who face a serious risk of forced closure as a result of such large scale developments. Small scale producers may be unable to compete with pricing and supply in an already struggling market. Opening one 8,000 cow unit ultimately could mean closing down 100 farms with around 70 cows.
Compassion in World Farming is urging the authorities to carefully consider the implications on UK dairy farming were they to grant permission for the proposed farm to be built.
Compassion believes dairy production must have a balance which provides a good free-range life for cows and a decent living for dairy farmers. Consumers should look for organic milk, cheese and butter and ask their supermarkets not to stock dairy products from cows prevented from grazing.
Top 3 other ways to help
As the situation develops, we will continue to let you know how you can help us put a stop to Nocton Dairies’ proposed “super dairy”. In the meantime, here is what you can do to help promote the welfare of cows:
- Only buy organic, preferably Soil Association certified, milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter
- If not buying organic, look for own-label dairy produce from supermarkets who have stopped calf-exports such as M&S and Tesco
- Speak to the manager of your local supermarket to ask them not to stock milk from zero-grazing systems
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* “Cows do not belong in fields.” was suggested by a representative of Nocton Dairies in an interview on BBC Radio Humberside on 17 March 2010. Later in the interview, the representative appeared to back-track, perhaps realising that this suggestion would not play well with the public.