Milk is part of everyday life for many of us, and dairy farming remains an important part of the UK countryside. However, the dairy sector is changing and by doing so putting growing pressure on rivers. Our new report 'Doing Dairy Differently’ shows what’s changed and how we can fix it. 
 

More milk, fewer farms - and more pressure on nature

This consolidation of the industry is driving bigger herds, longer periods indoors and greater reliance on bought-in feed. Family farms are exiting the industry and mega factory farmed style units are replacing them. 

Over the past decade, the number of intensive dairy farms keeping cattle permanently indoors has more than doubled. At least 40 very large ‘mega-dairies’ have now been identified across the UK, with the largest holding around 2,600 cows. Yet, unlike intensive pig and poultry units, large dairy and beef farms are not currently subject to the same level of environmental permitting and monitoring. 

When cows spend more time indoors, more slurry is collected in yards and stores. If storage, spreading and clean water separation do not keep pace with herd growth, the risk of pollution rises sharply. Mega-dairies are increasing the pressure on the land through needing more land to spread the growing production of slurry.  

This is a growing pressure on top of an industry that is already responsible for a larger amount of agricultural pollution. The Environment Agency’s recent agriculture and water environment report found that dairy activity was responsible for 71% of serious agricultural pollution incidents.
 

Slurry pollution matters for rivers and wildlife

Dairy slurry and silage pollution can carry nutrients, organic matter and sediment into rivers. This fuels algal blooms, reduces oxygen levels and damages habitats for freshwater wildlife, including invertebrates and fish. In the worst cases, pollution can create ecological ‘dead zones’ where rivers struggle to support life. 

The most common actions required post pollution incident are actions that are already available to the industry, such as grants for dirty and clean water separation. This raises questions whether the industry is supported enough with trusted advice on the ground and implementation of these readily available actions. We’ve seen great case studies where co-operatives and Catchment Sensitive Faming have worked together to provide advice to more farmers in a less intimidating setting, resulting in preventive actions being taken up. It’s crucial advisers and community outreach work closely with the industry to prevent pollution events rather than responding to them.   

The report also highlights a wider land-use issue. As dairy systems become more reliant on bought-in feed, pressure grows on land in the UK and overseas. Feed crops including cereals, maize and imported soy can drive habitat loss, soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly where soy is linked to deforestation.
 

Climate change is already hitting dairy farms

The climate crisis is not a distant threat for dairy farmers. Heat stress has been reducing milk yields and increasing costs, while droughts and wetter winters are making grazing, forage production and slurry management more challenging. A resilient dairy sector will naturally cut pollution when reducing reliance on high nutritional inputs by working with natural systems rather than against them. 
 

Better dairy is possible

Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), organic and First Milk farmers are showcasing that many dairy farmers are already producing dairy in a nature friendly way. 

Farms making better use of grass and using natural features like trees and hedgerows to protect rivers and soils and livestock are reducing pollution risk while improving resilience and profitability.  

In one case study the farmer grazes all year round and uses herbal leys, incorporating deep-rooting plant species that will reach farther down in soil to get water. Organic herds can make more profit with lower costs and fewer healthier cows. 

If the rivers aren’t enough of a justification, lower-input systems can make strong business sense too. The Maximum Sustainable Output approach shows that farms can improve commercial returns by reducing costly inputs such as artificial fertiliser and concentrate feed, and by making better use of grass, healthy soils and well-managed grazing. 

What needs to change

The Wildlife Trusts are calling for a fair, practical and phased transition to better practices for dairy farming — one that will support farmers to keep producing milk while protecting the natural systems food production depends on. Key recommendations include: 

• Strengthening regulation for the highest-risk dairy systems, including very large housed units and farms with little or no grazing. It’s crucial the government proceeds with the dairy permitting consultation as promised to allow for a voice for nature in our food systems. 
• Helping farmers invest in slurry storage, clean and dirty water separation, riparian fencing and other pollution-prevention infrastructure. 
• Expanding trusted farm advice, including Catchment Sensitive Farming and farmer-to-farmer learning. 
• Introducing nutrient planning that works at both farm and catchment scale. 
• Backing organic, regenerative and pasture-based dairy systems through public policy, procurement and fairer markets. 
• Making supply chains more transparent, so farmers are rewarded for reducing pollution, improving soil health and restoring habitats. 

In the long term, to improve the health of the nation and its vital natural systems, we need to wean ourselves off harmful cheap dairy and onto affordable but better dairy which uses the land and rivers wisely and in an integrated way. 

This means protecting our farmers doing dairy better from unfair treatment from buyers and from cheap imports, by using core standards in trade agreements and full transparency in supply chains - so customers know what they are buying.  
 

A nature-positive future for dairy 

Dairy farming can have a positive future in the UK — but only if farmers are supported to move away from high-input, high-pollution systems and towards approaches that restore nature, clean up rivers and build resilient businesses. Doing dairy differently means working with nature, not against it. 

Read the Doing Dairy Differently report