The rise of ‘mega-dairies’ is pushing nature to breaking point, according to a new report from The Wildlife Trusts published today.
The report, Doing Dairy Differently, warns that the shift towards larger, more intensive dairy systems is putting growing pressure on the land, water and wider environment on which farms, people and wildlife depend.
More than 40 mega-dairies – very large-scale dairy farms – exist across the UK, the largest housing 2,600 cows. Yet unlike intensive pig and poultry units, large dairy and beef farms are not subject to the same government monitoring, meaning their size and environmental impacts are left unchecked.
The number of farms keeping cattle indoors year-round has also more than doubled over the past decade, increasing the volume of slurry that must be stored and managed, while existing infrastructure is failing to keep pace.
Analysis by The Wildlife Trusts of recent Environment Agency figures (1) calculated that dairy activity was responsible for 71 per cent of serious agricultural pollution incidents in England alone, damaging rivers, contributing to algal blooms, reducing oxygen levels and harming wildlife.
However, the new report argues that the barrier to a more sustainable dairy sector is not a lack of good practice, but a supermarket-profits led system that too often rewards volume over resilience, pushes risk back onto farmers, and fails to account for the damage caused by pollution, imported feed and declining natural resources.
Instead, new Maximum Sustainable Output (MSO) analysis – which looks at the level of production a farm can sustain profitably – suggests that lower-input, nature-friendly systems can improve returns, reduce environmental pressures and build resilience to economic and climate shocks. The analysis also shows that well-managed grazing and healthy soils, alongside suitable slurry management, can reduce pollution risks and reliance on costly inputs such as artificial fertiliser and concentrated feed.
Gemma Lane, Land Use Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Our new report proves that we cannot measure the health of the dairy sector by output alone. The current system is driving poor outcomes including increased pollution and exposure to the impacts of climate change. Yet, when properly embedded into farming practices, nature can be part of the solution. Farms that work with nature are already reducing their reliance on costly inputs while building resilience to the challenges ahead.”
The Wildlife Trusts’ new report calls for practical action to help dairy farms move towards a sustainable future, including:
- Stronger regulation and investment to help prevent pollution – strengthening regulation for the highest-risk dairy systems, including the permitting of very large, housed units and farms with little or no grazing, while helping farmers invest in slurry storage and other pollution-prevention infrastructure.
- Better advice and support for farmers – expanding trusted farm advice, including farmer-to-farmer learning, helping farmers to adopt nature-friendly methods and plan how they manage nutrients and manure.
- Greater support for nature-friendly dairy – supporting organic and regenerative dairy farms through government agri-environment schemes and fairer supply chains so that farmers are rewarded for the environmental benefits they deliver.
Gemma Lane adds:
“The UK Government must extend environmental permitting for intensive dairy & beef farms so that their impacts can be properly measured and managed. At the same time, it must invest in a dairy sector that is resilient to climate pressures, while supporting farmers’ livelihoods. With the right funding, advice and supply-chain support to embed nature into farming practices, more farmers can reduce pollution risks, restore local wildlife and build profitable, sustainable businesses fit for the future.”