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UK has more investigation shows that livestock megafarms 1000 | Animal care

There is more over 1,000 American-style mega farms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, some of which contain up to a million animals. new the study.

In the US, mega farms are defined as those that own more over 125,000 birds raised for meat, or 82,000 laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy cows or 1,000 beef cattle. US officials label them as concentrated pet food. system (CAFO).

By 2021, the number of farms in UK that met US definition of CAFO, or mega-farm, was 1,099 people. research.

This figure is known to be underestimated due to an omission of Scottish data which was not available because of cyberattack in 2020.

What is a mega farm?

No legal definition in United Kingdom of mega farm. The EPA and its regional counterparts classify livestock farms as “intensive” if they have at least 40,000 poultry, 2,000 pigs, or 750 breeding sows. In the US, larger concentrated animal feed (CAFO) establishments are defined as those with 125,000 broiler chickens, 82,000 laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy or 1,000 beef cattle. There are currently 1099 mega farms. of this size in United Kingdom.

Why are they controversial?

Mega farms and intensive farms are controversial because they require maintenance of dozens of thousands of animals in a small space, which activists and independent experts say could prevent them from ability express natural behavior, e.g. moving natural and nested. However, animals are often kept indoors throughout their lives. on some farms they are allowed access to open areas, at least part of of time. There is also afraid that the animals on mega farms can be over-drug with like antibiotics one the whole herd gets sick required be treated.

Why are some people believe we need them?

Mega farms and intensive farms occupy up significantly less space how traditional farms and they allow animals must be kept safe, away from predators and potential vectors of disease. Their conditions are tightly controlled, which allows farmers to monitor amount of daylight, water and food for animals, and if the disease develops, livestock can be quickly cured.

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Mega farms

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What is a mega farm?

No legal definition in United Kingdom of mega farm. The EPA and its regional counterparts classify livestock farms as “intensive” if they have at least 40,000 poultry, 2,000 pigs, or 750 breeding sows. In the US, larger concentrated animal feed (CAFO) establishments are defined as those with 125,000 broiler chickens, 82,000 laying hens, 2,500 pigs, 700 dairy or 1,000 beef cattle. There are currently 1099 mega farms. of this size in United Kingdom.

Why are they controversial?

Mega farms and intensive farms are controversial because they require maintenance of dozens of thousands of animals in a small space, which activists and independent experts say could prevent them from ability express natural behavior, e.g. moving natural and nested. However, animals are often kept indoors throughout their lives. on some farms they are allowed access to open areas, at least part of of time. There is also afraid that the animals on mega farms can be over-drug with like antibiotics one the whole herd gets sick required be treated.

Why are some people believe we need them?

Mega farms and intensive farms occupy up significantly less space how traditional farms and they allow animals must be kept safe, away from predators and potential vectors of disease. Their conditions are tightly controlled, which allows farmers to monitor amount of daylight, water and food for animals, and if the disease develops, livestock can be quickly cured.

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March of those mega farms are american style in UK has been revealed in Guardian’s investigation in 2017, but up-to-date data was published this week in book by Philip Limbury, Executive Director, Sixty Harvests Left: How to Achieve a Greener Future of Compassion in World Agriculture (CIWF).

Only in England of mega farms increased from 818 in from 2016 to 944 in 2020. Of which 745 house birds and 199 for pigs. There are four poultry farms. in UK Registered for 1 million birds with largest holding up up to 1.4 million. For pigs, the three largest farms keep more over 20,000 pigs.

There is also at least 19 dairies that meet the criteria of “megamilk”. Cows are holding in intensive dairy products are “zero-grazed” which means they are not allowed out in the fields and permanently housed in barns. The biggest one in UK seems to be holding 2000 animals.

In addition, nine mega farms contain 1000 or more beef cattle. American-style beef feedlots where cattle are fattened. up before the slaughter were first identified as existing in United Kingdom in Guardian’s investigation in 2018.

There are nine mega farms in the UK, owning 1,000 or more beef cattle where they are fattened up before slaughter.
There are nine mega farms in the UK, owning 1,000 or more beef cattle where they are fattened up before slaughter. Photo: Bureau of Journalistic investigations

Factory farming maximizes production at the lowest cost of producing cheap meat and dairy products – 1 billion chickens, 10 million pigs and 2.6 million head of cattle are slaughtered in the UK a year. year – and most of Animals raised in the UK contain in intensive aggregates.

However, there are concerns that intensive farming is a driver of climate change, water and air pollution, loss of biodiversity and negative impacts on local communities, including the creation of potential health risks associated with with ammonia pollution. Intensive animal husbandry has also accused for growing disease risk.

In Europe the Dutch government recently introduced plans radically reduce livestock to limit excess nitrogen from intensive farming.

Animal advocates say animals in mega farms are deprived ability to express natural behavior. Animal keeping in “crowded, mostly barren conditions” and using fast- breeding of chicken breeds and cages for farrowing for pigs “question our claims to be a nation of animal lovers,” said Philip Limbury, Managing Director of Compassion in World Farming.

This was stated by Lizzie Wilson from the National Pig Association. big not necessarily equal bad: “Large farms can often provide more resources such as more a stock of people a dedicated veterinarian… who actually make it easier good caring for animals.”

Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said all production systems in UK included good welfare: “Systems perceived as higher welfare more resource intensive with decrease in efficiency and productivity, with co-effects on in environment and cost of production.”

representative for The National Farmers Union said: “No matter what sector or size of on the farm, indoors or outdoors, animal health and welfare is a constant priority for all British farmers because they know what public values ​​high standards of animal health and welfare that farmers work to.”

Cattle in a pen on farm in United Kingdom
UK now home to more over 1000 mega farms with herds of up up to 3000 heads of cattle at the same time in paddocks without grass for long periods. Photo: Bureau of Journalistic investigations

representative for The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) said that the vast majority of beef and dairy cattle in Great Britain “grazed in the open air throughout year for bye weather conditions allow.

As UK agriculture changes there are calls for reform. Agriculture in a scrap metal factory campaign sues the European Court of human rights, claiming that government unable to defend public from climate change and the threat of future pandemics from industrial animal husbandry.

“Let’s stop denying that industrial farming inherently cruel and is the main driver of wildlife decline and climate change,” Limbury told The Guardian.

representative for department for Environment, Food and Agriculture stated that all farms, regardless of of size should match with UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary drugs and environmental law.

“Animal Welfare Act 2006 also makes it a crime cause any animal in captivity unnecessary suffering or fail to meet the needs of welfare of animal – and we will take action without hesitation against those who fail meet these standards.”

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Adrian Ovalle
Adrian Ovalle
Adrian is working as the Editor at World Weekly News. He tries to provide our readers with the fastest news from all around the world before anywhere else.

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