US Mega Dairies Going British

April 11, 2011 from Earth Focus

Mega dairies produce large amounts of milk at lower cost but there is a high price to pay - for people, cows and the environment. Large scale dairy farms in the US have expanded by more than 90% in the last ten years and they're putting small and mid-sized dairies out of business. Bigger farms also mean more air and water pollution and they raise ethical concerns. With plans under review to open Europe's first US style mega dairy in England, Britain's Ecologist TV goes to California for an inside look at US factory dairy farms.

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Farm

A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food, fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and op... Explore this topic

Water pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of w... Explore this topic

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom and Britain, is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of... Explore this topic

Dairy

A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk – mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is... Explore this topic

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populous U.S. state, home to 1 out of 8 Americans, and is the third largest state by area. It is home to the nation's second and fifth largest census statistical areas, and eight of the nation... Explore this topic

Ecology

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships that living organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution, amount, number of organisms, as well as competition between them within and... Explore this topic

Earth Focus

An environmental news magazine that puts a human face on pressing global issues. This essential series features under-publicized stories on how changes to the earth's resources and climate are affecting everyday people all around the world. Earth Focus is funded by grants from... Explore this topic

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