Nocton Dairies has bowed to public pressure over its plans to establish a dairy in which most cows would be kept indoors by deciding to allow the majority of cows to graze.
The original plan for Nocton Dairies' 8,100-cow herd in Lincolnshire envisaged that only 'dry', or non-lactating, cows would be put out to pasture.
However, following a public backlash fuelled by Viva, which dubbed the dairy a "cow prison", Nocton's directors have said they will allow the herd's lactating cows to go outdoors as well.
The decision had come after discussions with the RSPCA and consideration of the public's reaction to the plans, said Nocton Dairies director Peter Willes. "We take the RSPCA very seriously if they're saying the cows need more space, then more space we'll give them," he added.
He and his colleagues stood by their assertion that allowing cows outside was not essential for their welfare, he said, but "if it helps people to accept what we're doing then we can't ignore it because they're our potential customers".
Nocton wanted to be in a position where there was nothing on the farm that the directors were afraid for anyone to see, he added.
Under the revised plan, the herd's lactating cows 6,700 animals at any one time will be put out to pasture for about eight hours a day between March and October.
Allowing the extra cows outside would involve minimal additional cost as it only required the fencing off of land the company already owned, said Willes.
News of Nocton's decision comes after a public meeting held by the dairy last week to keep local residents abreast of its plans.
Nocton Dairies applied for planning permission to build its 'super-dairy' in February but subsequently withdrew its application following concerns raised by the Environment Agency and other bodies about its environmental impact. It is expected to submit a revised application in September.
Nocton is yet to secure a supply contract for its milk
The original plan for Nocton Dairies' 8,100-cow herd in Lincolnshire envisaged that only 'dry', or non-lactating, cows would be put out to pasture.
However, following a public backlash fuelled by Viva, which dubbed the dairy a "cow prison", Nocton's directors have said they will allow the herd's lactating cows to go outdoors as well.
The decision had come after discussions with the RSPCA and consideration of the public's reaction to the plans, said Nocton Dairies director Peter Willes. "We take the RSPCA very seriously if they're saying the cows need more space, then more space we'll give them," he added.
He and his colleagues stood by their assertion that allowing cows outside was not essential for their welfare, he said, but "if it helps people to accept what we're doing then we can't ignore it because they're our potential customers".
Nocton wanted to be in a position where there was nothing on the farm that the directors were afraid for anyone to see, he added.
Under the revised plan, the herd's lactating cows 6,700 animals at any one time will be put out to pasture for about eight hours a day between March and October.
Allowing the extra cows outside would involve minimal additional cost as it only required the fencing off of land the company already owned, said Willes.
News of Nocton's decision comes after a public meeting held by the dairy last week to keep local residents abreast of its plans.
Nocton Dairies applied for planning permission to build its 'super-dairy' in February but subsequently withdrew its application following concerns raised by the Environment Agency and other bodies about its environmental impact. It is expected to submit a revised application in September.
Nocton is yet to secure a supply contract for its milk
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