See Comments (47)

1. Lynda Bryant November 29, 2011 5:21 pm

   I have worked on dairy farms, I do not support the concept of mega-dairies and factory farming and I do not come to this decision in ignorance. I urge the Welsh Assembly to consider animal welfare objectively, and not consider purely financial gain as their primary concern in coming to a decision.

2. adam November 30, 2011 5:02 pm

   every animal deserves to live with dignertey and without beening in pain and live a normal life in their natuaral surroundings and not locked up and be treated like a factory animal instead of a farm animal

3. griffiths_carolyn@hotmail.com December 2, 2011 2:50 pm

   No mega dairy

4. Lisa Sood December 7, 2011 7:47 am

   This dairy is not going to benefit anyone – animals nor humans nor the environment – so just say NO!

5. Ali Twigg December 7, 2011 9:53 am

   Ditch dairy and do yourselves and cows a favour.

   Cows belong in fields; this is their natural habitat. Cows have not evolved to provide humans with their calves’ milk. Humans do not need the breast milk of another species. No other creature steals the milk of a different species except humans. Whilst badgers are being blamed and slaughtered in a futile attempt to stop the spread of bovine TB, (note the title ‘bovine’ , not ‘meline’) cows are being moved indoors to spend their entire lives living on concrete, where they will have to stand or lie in their own faeces and urine. There will be another outbreak of some deadly virus, which no doubt will be blamed on the fox or the rat; any other creature apart from the one truly responsible – man. And the poor dairy cow, who is artificially inseminated so that she has a growing calf inside her whilst she is being milked to death, hasn’t got the stamina to fight of these super bugs because she is already routinely pumped full of antibiotics that the super bugs are resistant to.

   Ditch dairy.

6. Jill Adams December 7, 2011 10:22 am

   I believe that farming, even for milk and meat, does not need to involve any cruelty. We already have pigs and hens kept in appaling conditions, please do not allow this to be extended to cows. It should be made illegal for cows to be kept inside in the summer months, as many are, even without mega dairies. People in this country should be encouraged to eat less meat and dairy products, but of a better quality. Finally it should be illegal to import meat from countries withr welfare standards lowe than our own.

7. Mr and Mrs Kenward December 7, 2011 10:27 am

   There is absolutly no need for this type of Dairy Farming,it is cruel,unwarranted and inconsiderate to humanity,the Cows that are incaserated and to the Planet,the whole concept is utter madness.
   WASPA took hold of the campain against Mega Dairies in Lincolnshire,and won,So please help to STOP the same from happening in Wales,and in any other County. STOP THIS STUPIDTY NOW.

8. Jill Parker December 7, 2011 11:19 am

   I have not touched dairy produce for almost ten years now and am perfectly fit and health, despite being 78 years old. I took this line after reading Professor Jane Plant’s book on the link between breast cancer and dairy produce, having had breast cancer myself. Cow’s milk is meant for calves, not humans! As for mega-dairies, they are a cruel and disgusting reflection of our treatment of animals as though they have no feelings and don’t matter. I wished I lived in Wales and could vote against them.

9. Tricia Campbell December 7, 2011 11:36 am

   I truly believe that cows should not be used to provide milk for humans – there are other types of milk which can be used. Huge dairy herds, particularly those kept in cramped cages in buildings are unnecessary. If humans feel the need to use animals to sustain their lives then the animals need to be properly cared for and their welfare protected.

10. Pat McKenna December 7, 2011 1:36 pm

    All animals should have the right to live as naturally as possible! Megadairies are an abomination, and should not be allowed in this country. I am already vegetarian, and if I was unable to be sure that the milk I am using did not come from these concentration camps for cattle, then I would most certainly become a vegan, rather than risk condoning these places. As has already been said, there are several alternatives available.

11. Sheila Corns December 7, 2011 1:57 pm

    Greed for more and more profit, that is what behind these mega-dairies.

12. Haria Stiffell December 7, 2011 2:16 pm

    Please stop using our animals in this way. It upsets me so much. All living creatures have a right to freedom and happiness and to be treated with kindness. I will not touch any products that are factory produced, and nor should you. Please stop this greed and do the right thing.

13. Vee Aylett December 7, 2011 4:35 pm

    For God’s sake & the sake of humankind, please stop the dreadful exploitation of cows & all farm animals in a very unnatural way.

    Factory farming is a very cruel practice & I strongly believe that the food that we eat & use should be obtained in the most humane & natural way. Animals have been exploited for far too long & we need to start standing up for their rights. The only voice they have is ours, so we need to shout STOP! And NO to factory farming.

14. Morgan Gordon December 7, 2011 6:31 pm

    Please stop harming and exploiting animals who have as much right as humans to quality of life. And we don’t need to eat them anyway, a vegetarian diet is far healthier than a carnivorous one.

15. Julia December 8, 2011 4:52 am

    Humans are the SCUM OF THE EARTH! No other animal would behave the way humans do.Other animals (maybe excluding cats) would only kill another animal instantly for food! This would be a humane killing ~ quick and painless!. F*****g farmers seem to delight in keeping animals confined in tiny cages ans subjecting them to pain fear and trauma on a daily basis! I wish Karma on anyone involved in factory farming!

16. Kath December 8, 2011 11:36 am

    I haven’t eaten or drunk meat or dairy products since 1984. I am fit and well and am 70 years old.I cried when I saw the cows lined up in the Mega Dairy. I will vote and vote and vote against it.

17. Hilary Minns December 9, 2011 8:01 pm

    Rest assured no milk or milk products from such a dairy will ever find their way into my house.

18. Margaret Crennell December 12, 2011 10:35 pm

    It fills me with disgust and horror to think of any intensive farming arrangements. My grandparents farmed in Mid Wales and they taught me respect and care towards all animals. There is no justification for compromising animal welfare. Whenever I mention proposals for mega diaries to family, friends and colleagues there’s consensus that such action would be wrong. Please reconsider and bin such proposals.

19. Lindsey Shaw-Miller December 14, 2011 12:25 pm

    I worked in dairy farming for ten years including milking some quite large herds, though nothing on this scale. This kind of development is exactly the way that stock farming should NOT be going. Cows are animals, not factory machines. However good the artificial conditions, they are not what cows were meant for. Happy cows produce wholesome milk, and life for both animals and herders is more satisfying and that, more than profit and quantity, MATTERS. Quality of life and quality of milk for all.

20. Jayne :) December 14, 2011 12:25 pm

    This is truly going to cause unecessary suffering to the cows and it is totally wrong , all in the name of profit. A cow should be grazing in the field not housed in a concrete stable and milked to death. Along with other intensive factory farming this is totally unacceptable and l will never buy milk from a Mega Diary! Please do not allow this to go ahead

21. Pat Milligan December 14, 2011 12:36 pm

    All intensive farming is abhorent. If you have a contented animal its produce is far better than one that is kept confined

22. Linette December 14, 2011 12:42 pm

    Wrong, wrong wrong!!!

23. Margie Cosker December 14, 2011 12:46 pm

    When are we going to start thinking about animals as living creatures and not about how more money can be made from them?

24. Liz December 14, 2011 12:52 pm

    I can’t say much more than Ali Twigg (above) has said. Considering we as humans are supposed to heve the superior brain, we seem to barely access even a fraction of its capacity. Everything works fine when we don’t meddle or twist it to suit our ignorant, greedy pockets. Absolutely NO to these torture houses. There is enough animal suffering on the road to the dinner table without adding to it.

25. Caroline December 14, 2011 1:01 pm

    This is both insane and inhumane

26. Deborah Wood December 14, 2011 1:45 pm

    environmentally a mega daiiry would be a disaster.

    for cows would be the height of cruelty.

    Please stop the mega dairy from happening for all sentient beings sake.

    WHAT THE UK DOES AFFECTS FAR MORE THAN THE UK – STOP THESE PLANS FROM GOING AHEAD PLEASE – IT IS SHEER MADNESS

27. DEBORAH WOOD December 14, 2011 1:53 pm

    Stop the Mega Dairy plans before it is too late.

    Who wants further torture to animals for greed? Who needs the environmental pollution to the water supply and the air?

    Remember the effects of methane go far beyond the UK in their devastating effects.

    The global temperature should ideally be around 275% – even 350 degrees as a maximum would be acceptable. Currently it is around
    390 degrees which is not acceptable and is creating destruction for wild animals and humans as far as the Arctic.

    Another Mega Dairy erection, for some organisation’s greed is needed like a hole in the head. PUT AN END TO THESE PLANS NOW!

28. Marilyn Pilley December 14, 2011 3:20 pm

    Cow factories are mainly to benefit the companies and get more money
    for less effort on their part. They are abandoning the respect and caring
    given to the cows who give their milk. Animal rights is a big thing, and should be taken into consideration! I don’t drink milk that is not organically
    made; whose cows are never given medicine, and are free-range cows, as it was in the past. Some measures should be left untampered with. And there is the air pollution to consider. I appose factory farms for all the
    reasons given above, and I will boycott any other milk except organic milk!

29. Sue Thorn December 14, 2011 3:27 pm

    NO TO THIS UNFORGIVABLE TORTURE

30. HARRY THOMPSON December 14, 2011 4:10 pm

    I BELIEVE THAT ALL ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE ALLOWED TO LIVE A NATURAL LIFE AS POSSIBLE AND TO BE TREATED WITH COMPASSION. IT IS SO WRONG TO LOWER ANIMAL WELFARE STANDARDS SO THAT PROFITS CAN BE RAISED.

31. Sandra Knight December 14, 2011 4:19 pm

    Drastic reduction in Human Overpopulation is the only answer to this ecological ,conservational and environmental collapse.

    We are living much, much longer and we breed much,much more. Plus, the mortality rates are lower.
    Human population is increasing now at exponential rates, world population has doubled since 1970.

    As long as we remain silent and do not take urgent and bold action against Human Overpopulation spiralling out of control, factory farming will become the norm, wildlife habitats will be completely destroyed by the massive urban sprawl, and the few non-human species left will continue to become extinct at an ever-increasing rate.
    By any ecological measure, Homo sapiens sapiens has exceeded its sustainable population size.
    The demand of an unsustainable human population for large-scale terrestrial food production is increasing faster and faster .As the growing human population reaches further and further into remote areas in search of room to build cities, housing developments, golf courses, road contruction and new farms, it is squeezing wildlife into ever smaller habitat refuges.

    We not only need smaller footprints, but fewer feet.

32. Judith M Joy December 14, 2011 4:24 pm

    Cows already suffer from man’s greed being bred to produce excessive quantities of milk which their bodies are not designed to do and living their short uncomfortable lives for our convenience. This plan is a step too far into the most inhumane treatment of sentient animals and necessitating dangerous use of drugs to prevent constant sickness in the cows. Such practises led us to the outbreak of ‘mad cow disease’ which cost our country billions and killed people who were unlucky enough to contact the disease. We should look at the problems being experienced in America and other countries who have allowed this factory farming and the opinions of people living near who suffer pollution in every way imaginable. Stop this idea before it starts and leads us into huge costs in human and animal lives.

33. Matt December 14, 2011 5:21 pm

    ”Do unto others”springs to mind.

34. Jan O’Donnell December 14, 2011 7:00 pm

    Why do farmers continue to use these methods of farming when so many people are against it and horrified by it? I will certainly never buy any product from such an inhumane and cruel business. Trouble is a lot of people still believe it is not their problem and therefore do nothing but they have to understand that their voices need to be heard too.

35. Elizabeth Bona December 14, 2011 8:24 pm

    Cows deserve respect for all they provide for people. They don’t need to be treated cruelly,locked up in a giant prison slavishly producing milk and living without comfort. They don’t want hard floors and metal bars and artificial lighting;they want to be in fields,grazing and feeling the sun on themselves. No one in their right mind would want milk from these mega dairies;the world is going the other way-people want ethical food,they’ve proven it by what they buy now. Most people get free range eggs now. Trust me it is the wrong way to go to start going backwards with animal welfare,the public just don’t want it.

36. Vicky December 14, 2011 10:54 pm

    I blame the big supermarkets. If they weren’t so obsessed with retaining customers by lowering prices of products, milk included, they would not be under-paying the farmers, therefore opening the doors to these dreadful companies who are concerned with profit and nothing else.

37. Jane Sanderson December 14, 2011 11:30 pm

    In Lincolnshire, where I live, plans for a mega-dairy have been dropped due to massive public opposition. I sincerely hope that the same thing will happen in Wales and that this cruel cow concentration camp will not be allowed ! It appals me that anybody( even a greedy businessman ) could consider such a horrible life for cows who shouild be living a natural life in fields. Animals should not be regarded as merely units of production – it is obscene ! Good luck to all Welsh people who are fighting this !!

38. Lisa Hart December 14, 2011 11:36 pm

    I’ve actually stolen this from Ali Twigg (above), but it so well put, I want to make sure as many people as possible read it. It is so true.

    Cows belong in fields; this is their natural habitat. Cows have not evolved to provide humans with their calves’ milk. Humans do not need the breast milk of another species. No other creature steals the milk of a different species except humans. Whilst badgers are being blamed and slaughtered in a futile attempt to stop the spread of bovine TB, (note the title ‘bovine’ , not ‘meline’) cows are being moved indoors to spend their entire lives living on concrete, where they will have to stand or lie in their own faeces and urine. There will be another outbreak of some deadly virus, which no doubt will be blamed on the fox or the rat; any other creature apart from the one truly responsible – man. And the poor dairy cow, who is artificially inseminated so that she has a growing calf inside her whilst she is being milked to death, hasn’t got the stamina to fight of these super bugs because she is already routinely pumped full of antibiotics that the super bugs are resistant to.

    Ditch dairy.

39. Esther Muller December 15, 2011 12:32 am

    There’s no justification for this kind of cynical exploitation of living creatures – especially a creature as gentle and harmless as a cow. As if it isn’t bad enough that we take all her babies away from her and steal the milk that nature intended for them, now we want to confine the poor defenceless creature to her individual concrete cell for life. Lock her up, throw away the key and stick a hose onto her swollen udders every day to get a few buckets of white liquid mixed with pus, to sell to deluded humans who have been brainwashed into thinking they need it in order to get their daily calcium or whatever. Ditch dairy – you really DON’T need it! Some things are just plain wrong and this so-called ‘industry’ is one of them.

40. Penny December 15, 2011 2:20 am

    Why not put ethics before profit for once!

41. Anne Jones December 15, 2011 11:39 am

    HELP!
    pity cows cant speak- they would surely say-
    Give me sky overhead, let me feel the sunshine, rain and grass under my hooves like nature intended.
    Humans have a tendancy to force unatural behaviour and change the status quo. Its all about spending to gain more profit for investors who couldnt care a jot how its obtained.
    It is pure cruelty

42. Marion Christine Vian December 15, 2011 1:34 pm

    I would like to see ‘greedy businessmen/shareholders’ etc be kept in these conditions for 6 months – shall we then see what they really think of mega farming !!! We are called ‘humans’ are we !!!! I dont think so, although a there are good people out there, unfortunately there are so many bad who do not care about anything but the main important thing ‘MONEY’ – animals deserve a decent life and dignity, please everyone sign, sign, sign – make sure you find out with your local food supplier WHERE milk / meat / eggs etc come from and tell them you wont purchase unless you know its cruelty free.

43. Sonja Allen December 15, 2011 8:40 pm

    This is truly disgusting, if fact the whole dairy farming industry is a disgrace. I live next door to a dairy farm it is free range and the cows are looked afte very but to keep making these poor creatures pregnant and then having their baby taken off them at a day old is just immorl and very very cruel. From my Cottage I can hear the babies cry for their Mothers and also the Mothere cries back it is heart rending to hear it and all for the sake of a pint of milk.

44. Marie December 16, 2011 11:10 am

    I changed to soya milk straight after I saw an awful video on what happens to cows and their calves. Try it – if you dont like the sweetened one, try the unsweetened. It’s fine and I now prefer it in my tea. And think of all those cows you would be helping…..

45. Stephanie Hammond December 18, 2011 6:14 pm

    I feel so dejected and fed up that petitions like this one are still necessary in 2011, nearly 2012. Maybe the corporate creatures – can’t call them farmers – who want to do this to cows, maybe they too could be called ‘living quite happily’ if they never did more than sit in front of their computers looking at their P&L spreadsheets, and drinking Red Bull on a specially devised self-exercising office chair. Why would they need to go beyond the confines of their workstation, talk to their families, go down the pub, or guffaw, guffaw, go, for example, ski-ing!?! “It’s just not natural for human beings to go ski-ing.” Stick these mindless moneycreatures in front of Charlie Brookers Black Mirrors and clamp electrodes on their nipples to check for any sign of human response. I wouldn’t bet on it, would you? I would argue that the very fact that this outrageous proposal has got this far is down to vested interests in government at local and national government. An idea that has been mooted in other spheres, I believe. What a shocking thing to suggest in the world’s ultimate corruption-free democracy. Or not.