Rise of Intensive Dairy Farming in the UK
Campaigners have raised alarms about the expansion of indoor dairy mega farms, warning that these “battery cow” systems could exacerbate pollution and animal welfare issues. This trend is emerging as farmers face rising costs and are compelled to adopt more intensive farming methods.
An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) has revealed that the number of intensive dairy farms, which permanently confine some cattle indoors, has more than doubled over the past decade. Current data indicates there are at least 180 such farms in the UK, up from approximately 70 in 2015.
During the same period, the number of ‘mega dairies’—farms housing over 700 cows—has also doubled, with 40 of these large-scale operations now in existence. The largest farms contain up to 2,600 cows.
Unlike intensive poultry and pig farms, which are regulated, large dairy units in the UK are not required to hold environmental permits. Consequently, the government lacks comprehensive data on their numbers and locations.
Economic Pressures Driving Growth
The increase in mega farms coincides with financial challenges faced by UK farmers. Rising costs for essentials such as fertiliser, fuel, and feed have surged in recent months. Some farmers have been compelled to sell milk at prices as low as 28p per litre, despite production costs averaging around 40p per litre.
Amid this crisis, many farmers feel pressured to expand and intensify production to remain viable. One farmer, who requested anonymity, stated,
“They feel like they’ve got to do it.”
Some intensive dairy units supply major industry players including Arla, Müller, and Saputo, which in turn provide milk to UK supermarkets and generate significant profits. Arla Group, known for Anchor butter and branded milk supplied to Asda, is among these companies.
Liberal Democrat MP Danny Chambers commented on the supply chain dynamics:
“We have a handful of powerful retailers at the top [and] a number of processors and distributors in the middle exploiting the hundreds of thousands of farmers stuck at the bottom. After the more powerful players take their cut, the farmers get whatever is left.”
Investigation Findings and Regional Hotspots
Using public and industry records, satellite imagery, and drone footage, the BIJ identified 42 factory-style dairy units across the UK. The primary dairy-producing regions of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, and Cheshire emerged as hotspots for this type of production.
Among these 42 mega dairies, 16 confine at least 1,000 cows, with the largest located in Pembrokeshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. These farms hold more than 2,000 cows each, compared to the UK average herd size of 160 cows.
Industry Perspectives and Animal Welfare Concerns
Farmers are divided over the industry's shift toward intensive systems. Many argue that year-round housing allows for increased productivity and better health monitoring of cows, denying that animal welfare or environmental standards are compromised.
Conversely, some farmers and campaigners express concern about the rise of “battery cows.” An organic farmer remarked,
“There’s not a close enough connection between consumers [and the way] food is produced on farms.”
Campaigners highlight the economic impact on smaller farms, the absence of grazing, and pollution risks. One dairy farmer explained the pressures:
“The only way to make more money is to produce more milk.”This farmer transitioned from an intensive indoor system, where cows were milked three times daily, to outdoor grazing to reduce stress and diversify his business for viability.
Broader Livestock Industry Trends
The move toward factory-style dairy farming reflects a wider pattern in the UK’s livestock sector over the past decade. In 2017, the BIJ and revealed numerous intensive pig farms nationwide, and a year later exposed US-style mega chicken farms, noting the government’s lack of monitoring.
Chambers emphasized the financial strain on farmers:
“When cost margins are made so tight by retailers, farmers feel they have no choice but to find every way they can to make the numbers add up or face losing their business entirely.”
He is among MPs advocating for legislation to ensure fairer treatment and pricing for farmers within supply chains.
Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University and a leading supply chain expert, described the situation as
“unacceptable yet normal.”He noted,
“The consuming public would be genuinely shocked to learn the returns on dairy work are so low … Artisanal producers have tried to build alternative models: shorter supply chains, niche markets, high quality, high welfare. But their products are inevitably more costly.”
Animal Welfare and Environmental Impact
The trend toward permanent indoor housing raises animal welfare concerns. Patrick Holden, head of the Sustainable Food Trust and an organic dairy farmer, stated,
“The euphemism of ‘fully housed’ should be replaced by ‘battery dairy cows’. We managed to ban battery eggs, why not battery cows? It is shameful that we subject cows […] to these conditions of confinement.”
However, Professor Jude Capper, livestock expert at Harper Adams University, argued that no system is inherently good or bad:
“Although the pastoral image of cattle grazing a sunny, lush pasture is aesthetically appealing, as consumers we often forget that there are just as many days of driving rain, high winds, low temperatures or drought in the UK that can have adverse effects on health and welfare.”
Government Response and Regulatory Considerations
Late last year, the government announced plans to consult on extending its environmental permitting scheme to include dairy farms and “intensive beef” units, responding to concerns about pollution incidents linked to the cattle sector.
Farms holding permits are subject to more frequent inspections and must implement measures to mitigate environmental impacts. However, farming leaders have expressed apprehension about the potential extension, citing concerns that additional regulations and costs could harm farms already struggling financially.
Regarding pollution, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) acknowledged that cattle farms significantly pollute water and air. Defra stated it would
“explore fair and proportionate approaches that seek to maximise environmental benefits and minimise costs and administrative burden for farmers.”
Industry and Retailer Statements
Judith Bryans, chief executive of Dairy UK, representing processors including Arla, Müller, and Saputo, affirmed that the UK maintains some of the highest animal welfare, food quality, and environmental standards globally. She emphasized existing rules to ensure fair and transparent milk trade but noted the sector must remain financially viable to invest in environmental improvements, processing innovations, and manage rising business costs.
She explained,
“Currently there is more milk being produced than the market needs, both in the UK and globally, while wider economic pressures are also impacting the industry. When there is oversupply, prices tend to fall until the market balances again.”
Tesco stated that all its dairy products meet welfare standards exceeding government requirements and that it employs transparent pricing structures to ensure farmers receive consistent and fair payments.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, representing supermarkets, said,
“Retailers take their responsibilities to animal welfare very seriously and they ensure it is a key part of the production standards for all the products they sell. All products must meet the same stringent animal welfare requirements, and our members work rigorously with trusted suppliers to ensure high welfare standards are upheld.
They are committed to supporting British dairy farmers and have invested heavily in UK agriculture through partnerships, dedicated programmes and additional support. Supply chains are also strictly regulated by the Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure suppliers are treated fairly.”
Data and Industry-Led Solutions
Defra reported maintaining a database of all livestock farms in England and tracking all cattle through a robust tracing system.
Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, chief executive of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, expressed interest in exploring an industry-led approach to reducing pollution incidents and understanding how a permitting scheme could operate effectively in the diverse dairy sector.
She added,
“Nobody would disagree that one pollution incident from farming is one too many; it’s about finding the solution that will have the best environmental outcome.”
Andrew Wasley is the food and agriculture reporter at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
