Plans for 'super dairy' withdrawn

Cows don't like their milk being used for human consumption. Look, this one is trying to escape from it all :(

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:p
 
Maesfen said:
We have two farms at least around here, both family farms that know every hair on every cow's head and who was the grandmother of each of them if you see what I mean. They both make a nice living, not extravagant but comfortable with about 150 milking at one time. Without exception their calves, both bull and heifer, are on the cow for nearly a week as they say it gives the best start to their calves and keeps the cows happier which in turn means their production stays up as they're not stressed. What they lose in production for that time is more than compensated for in less milk powder, veterinary and man hours costs alone which mean a lot when you're only a one with part time help band. I don't know if it would work as well at the larger farms who are scraping for every penny profit though.
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It's the same on OH's cousin's farm, calves are not taken from their mothers at birth and bull calves are never shot, but they are a small dairy milking about 60 cows.
 
I am aware that there are no cows there... I am not a complete twit, my point is that a very large and unwanted "dairy" is being built to buy milk at low prices from british farmers (I am well aware that you are one of those) and more likely brought in from europe cutting out the British Farmer further to churn out rubbery cheese, and other such crud for Tescos.
 
I wouldn't worry too much... it's been tried and hasn't worked before ;)
BTW I'm not a dairy farmer :), heck, I'm not even British :D

I didn't suggest you are a twit, far from it, just couldn't quite understand what a processing plant has to do with dairy cow welfare :)
 
no i am a twit.... just not a complete one! I am pleased that the Nocton Dairy has been abandoned for now but my concern is that I think Arlo were planning to purchase their milk from them and although I loath the thought of a super dairy, at least it would be under UK welfare law. If they still go ahead in Aston Clinton (which they may not now fingerscrossed) they will purchase milk from Europe where the welfare laws are far more lax, and of course because it is processed in the UK the average Joe will assume it is from British farmers...
 
martlin said:
TBH, I'm not that sure the average British Joe cares that much :o I mean, people say they care, until they are faced with a choice at the supermarket :/
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don't even get me started!! I could give myself an aneurysm on that subject...... (insert a smiley face of your choice here)
 
Couple of questions for those who may know. I always buy organic cheese and milk. What does organic mean when it comes to cheese and milk? I guess i'm thinking the cows run free, less crap in it etc :o

Also, how can I ensure it comes from british farmers? Does it say so on packet? Should think it does, but just checking.

I will be giving it up soon, but can't get my head around the vegan cheese :eek: it tastes like rubberised vomit :( So am going to wean myself off cheese altogether.
 
organic means mainly good for the soil (which doesn't necessarily mean tasty or good for you ;)) When it comes to dairy, the cows are grazers and their diet is free of certain things, there are restrictions on fertilisers and weedkillers etc.

Yes, it says on the packet if it is produced in UK and from what ''nationality'' milk, too. then there is the red tractor icon :)

Sorry, I don't think I'm that good at explaining :o

ETS: It turns out that organic dairy cows don't have to be outside grazing, so go figure
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/ruralni/in...ion/organic_dairy/organic-milk-production.htm
 
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Sarah sum1 said:
Couple of questions for those who may know. I always buy organic cheese and milk. What does organic mean when it comes to cheese and milk? I guess i'm thinking the cows run free, less crap in it etc :o

Also, how can I ensure it comes from british farmers? Does it say so on packet? Should think it does, but just checking.

I will be giving it up soon, but can't get my head around the vegan cheese :eek: it tastes like rubberised vomit :( So am going to wean myself off cheese altogether.
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Basically no chemicals have been used in the production of the 'goods' ie only natural/ herbal produce used to treat sick animal (might as well treat them with water half the time:rolleyes:) also no chemicals used on the land they graze/ or their feeding comes from.
 
jockmaster said:
can I ask why you are turning Vegan? is it due to welfare or diet?
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Many reasons really. I was dairy intolerant as a child. I had to have soya milk as a baby etc. I don't think dairy agrees with me to this day. It is also to do with welfare. So a bit of both really. :)
 
Personally, I buy only British meat and dairy products, and British fruit and veg when possible. I would be quite happy to pay a bit more for a pint of milk, it is the supermarkets that are responsible for driving farmers out of business. I'm sure that most folks would not notice if a pint went up a few pence and would still buy it.

I don't agree with super dairies, not just from the welfare POV but also the enviromental impact. And, FWIW, I do not agree with keeping horses in 24/7 and would never keep mine on a yard that restricted turnout.
 
Sarah sum1 said:
Many reasons really. I was dairy intolerant as a child. I had to have soya milk as a baby etc. I don't think dairy agrees with me to this day. It is also to do with welfare. So a bit of both really. :)
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have you tried sheeps milk/cheese? it is far easier to tolerated by people with cow's milk issues. Welfare wise the lambs are not shot at birth but raised and finished as with usual meat production a a terminal sire is often used.
 
fluffy little coblet, i hope things improve for you soon and you get a decent diet,

was'nt there a big cooperative milk processing plant that went bust last year? maybe that's why they want to build another
 
Re turning vegan, I was a vegetarian and have recently turned vegan. If you think about it dairy is totally unnecessary for us and we can eat fine without it. Healthier too, really. In the last few years, I have realised the welfare is pretty bad too, and that is the main reason I have given up for. I started to go off dairy before I turned vegan, and once you don't eat it for a while you realise how fatty/creamy it is when you try it again. Now I have made the decison to become vegan I know I won't go back to eating dairy because I really don't like it either now. I have been experimenting with vegan baking. One of the only things I can think of you can't make a replacement for is things like meringue because there is only really powdered egg substitute I think (which I haven't tried cooking with). Agree with Sarah sum 1 though, some of that soya vegan stuff is naff.
 
Before we knock 'Average Joe' for not supporting British farmers not all of us have had the 'luxury' of growing up on a farm/in rural bliss/in the countryside.

Not everyone knows the insides and outsides of farming. Its not that average joe doesn't care its more likely that poor old average joe reads whats on the labels and thinks they are doing their best.

I always buy british meats, I always buy free range, I do actually prefer british varieties of apples. However, up until I passed my test I was reliant on 'The Peasant Carrier'(bus) to do my shopping and sadly it only went as far as Tesco and not the farmers market. I know lots of people in this situation.

I would happily pay a bit more for produce that came direct from the farm-but I'm not going to pay some of the silly prices just because the chicken flesh has a golden glow. (Sorry but an extra £5???? thats fuel in my car, or the heating on for an extra few days)
 
NOISYGIRL said:
Good, I saw a prog on one eve about the ones in America I think it was, it was so sad the poor cows never saw grass or the outdoors
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Some don't, you're right. However, they do have the opportunity to socialise, wander around, lie down as and when they want and lead a reasonable quality of life. There are plenty of other factory farmed animals far more deserving of the bleeding hearts. There are clearly some knowledgable people on here commenting and there are others who really haven't got a scooby about it and just say, ah, isn't it all really really cruel, poor likkle calves and cows.
 
WoopsiiD said:
Before we knock 'Average Joe' for not supporting British farmers not all of us have had the 'luxury' of growing up on a farm/in rural bliss/in the countryside.

Not everyone knows the insides and outsides of farming. Its not that average joe doesn't care its more likely that poor old average joe reads whats on the labels and thinks they are doing their best.

I always buy british meats, I always buy free range, I do actually prefer british varieties of apples. However, up until I passed my test I was reliant on 'The Peasant Carrier'(bus) to do my shopping and sadly it only went as far as Tesco and not the farmers market. I know lots of people in this situation.

I would happily pay a bit more for produce that came direct from the farm-but I'm not going to pay some of the silly prices just because the chicken flesh has a golden glow. (Sorry but an extra £5???? thats fuel in my car, or the heating on for an extra few days)
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WoopsiiD, I for one am not knocking the 'Average Joe' , like you say, its the Supermarkets that are the real culprits, and as you say, many people can't afford to pay more for their groceries, lots of people are struggling as it is. However, lots of the people complaining are the 'average Joes' and I was just pointing out that whilst they complaining about these super dairies and the like, that but buying cheaper produce, they are actually supporting this kind of farming:(
 
mon said:
lots of cows arent even maternal, so stress of taking calf off not that bad,
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You're kidding, right? Have you ever seen a cow that has just calved? Or tried approaching it/it's calf? With the majority you'd be taking your life in your hands, they are VERY maternal, and very protective.


martlin said:
TBH, I'm not that sure the average British Joe cares that much :o I mean, people say they care, until they are faced with a choice at the supermarket :/
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^^^ this.
 
Horseyscot said:
WoopsiiD, I for one am not knocking the 'Average Joe' , like you say, its the Supermarkets that are the real culprits, and as you say, many people can't afford to pay more for their groceries, lots of people are struggling as it is. However, lots of the people complaining are the 'average Joes' and I was just pointing out that whilst they complaining about these super dairies and the like, that but buying cheaper produce, they are actually supporting this kind of farming:(
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SHOCK HORROR!!!

I agree with you PMSL...ya scot!! :p

Supermarkets do have a lot to answer for. Slightly off topic...did anyone else watch the Fish Fight thing?
I'll be honest, I thought Dolphin Friendly was the way to go......I now realise that unless its Pole caught Tuna you may as well be eating the turtles/dolphins/sharks.

N.B-Sainsburys own brand IS pole caught and is just as tasty as the other well knowns!
 
I have seen plenty of fresh calved cows most are maternal but some dont care, just like sheep, some will mother both some one and a few neither, I am a livestock farmer and nothing worse than a dam which turns on its offspring but does happen, just that in suckler cows and sheep it is bred in them and dairy cows not high on breeding traits.
 
Horseyscot said:
Basically no chemicals have been used in the production of the 'goods' ie only natural/ herbal produce used to treat sick animal (might as well treat them with water half the time:rolleyes:) also no chemicals used on the land they graze/ or their feeding comes from.
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Not true. Antibiotics are used in exactly the same way on organic and non-organic cows - it's just that the gap between finishing the course of medicine and re-starting milking again is longer in organic cows.
 
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