Please sign the petition to stop US style cow factory farms in the UK.

[Lotster]

Big agricultural companies plan to build US-style 'mega dairies' in Lincolnshire. Cows in these huge factory farms never see a blade of grass and remain in an industrial shed their whole lives. Experts warn that these cow factories would be bad for climate change, bad for cows, and bad for other farmers.

Lincolnshire councils have the power to stop these farms being built, and stop this US-style farming spreading to the UK. Help build the pressure - add your name to the petition now.

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In the USA, dairy cattle and beef cattle are raised in appalling conditions. In Europe, there are strict legislation on the use of drugs and antibiotics on dairy cattle - this does not exist in the USA.

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Info on this on BBC1 now

I think I may have to go vegetarian

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Done and on facebook too.

I live in Lincolnshire... this is a big issue here.

DISAGREE - being a farmers wife myself and battled with a meat business and failed - This is the only way forward to stop FOREIGN IMPORTS.

Far too many ignorant people who have opinions on farming.

Farmers are going out of business everyday and this is the only way forward. However, it would not be my chose I would tell you to tell your supermarkets to stock milk that has been fairly paid for, far too cheap. Or perhaps some of you could buy more food from your local farm shop instead of licking the arse of your supermarket.

People seem to throw their arms up in rage now but when in the supermarket couldnt care a damn - see the crud that they sell in say Asda - cheap, cheap, cheap!

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bacon I agree I try and buy meat locally and if in the supermarket go for British and better quality/welfare standards.

I just don't understand why people don't wonder why some meat is so cheap.......

Our solution has been to eat smaller quantities of the more expensive meat to afford it.

Um, not to rain on anyone's parade, but take a look at the Council website where you can study the detailed plans for this development. The Council is NOT allowed to consider animal welfare issues as a factor when deciding to grant or turn down planning consent. It would be like me putting in an application to build a giant temple of the greyhound and my neighbours objecting because they are followers of Richard Dawkin. You can object on grounds such as damage to the environment, noise, light, flies etc

The North Kesteven Council website has the application in full - just search for 10/1397/FUL and you will see all 94 documents including a detailed welfare statement. What many people may not realise, including myself till I went and had a look is that cows will be allowed free access to the outdoors for around six months of the year, and the welfare statement actually shows they have put a great deal of thought into minimising the commonest health problems affecting dairy cattle.

Having known a few farmers who kept cattle, it is possible to have quite severe welfare issues in a traditionally raised herd, while there are also some very good managers. As with many industries, there are good and bad. Val is being ethically consistent in being a vegan, but many of us do drink/eat dairy products and would like to see high welfare standards. Thinking in detail about that is often quite complex and is rarely black and white.

"Valhala - ....I think that the hysterical 'I'll "preach", as you put it, until every bloody cowshed, every stall and every cage is empty.' attitude does the animal welfare movement no favours. Especially when you are aggressive towards someone like me who would rather go without than eat battery-anything."

You think I'M aggressive???? Take a look at this while you're eating your beef sandwhich and pontificating about how happy and well cared for the animals you eat are.

Another measured and reasonable response from you Valhala - you must have had training in how to alienate people who would otherwise agree with you.

Why are you banging on about animal welfare once again ignornant!

Most cattle spend 6 months of the year inside anyway as the grass dont grow - basic principal! Plus regulations do not allow you to poach the land and allow dirty water run off! So there!!!

These cattle probably would have better welfare than many cattle kept on 'poverty farms' many farmers cannot afford vets nor medicines. Many milking parlours are very old and the system probably dangerous to the milker. To say that a farmer should care is pretty obviuos, farming is a way of life - you live on the farm, you dont clock off at 5pm and walk away and have nice holidays. The average age of a farmer now is 54 and usually have to work by themselves as their off-spring have moved away for a better more profitable life. Many of these milking farmers live a very humble life (cottages in need of maintenance and no central heating) - well below the minimum wage, dont get tax credits or any other financial help so I get very annoyed by people waving their finger on the "farmer should care about welfare" comments. Perhaps these people should go and visit a farm and get stuck in!

In this system, animals would be micro chipped and the system fully computerised. The silage would be tested in labs to ensure it reaches full nutricial values. The welfare is paramount - If many of you understand animals you get good beef/milk from happy animals - not rocket science.

Agree with the UK system is the best - look at the USA nothing like ours.

Too many people watch these programmes and are not equiped enough to understand the ins and outs.

Please give alternatives!!! Look forward to well thought responces.

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I come on to threads like this to find out more about the issues involved, so it's very helpful when people give well-informed responses.

I saw the Panorama prog too, and was so sad to think that anyone could consider treating cows like that.

On the other hand I feel really sorry for farmers who continually have to adjust to new situations. The supermarkets should pay a fair price for milk, and so should we. I read somewhere that most people don't even look at the price of essentials like milk - you have to buy it anyway - so supermarkets' profits wouldn't suffer (as if!!)

I also feel anxious because farmers are the custodians of our precious countryside, and I hate to see them taken over and dictated to by huge multinational companies. These gigantic cow sheds look horrible and no matter how many regulations are put in place, there are always people who break or bend them.