Wiltshire farmer says his no-graze approach benefits his cows

A farmer who uses a zero-grazing system says the welfare of his cows is as good as those in any other herds.

Joe Carter farms in Wiltshire and has about 300 dairy cows which do not go out into fields to graze, something which is recommended by the RSPCA but is not a legal requirement. Instead, they stay year-round in open-air barns with outdoor “loafing areas” they can choose to use.

Vet Chris Warren, from The George Veterinary Group, which looks after almost 100 dairy farms, including Carter’s, said a third of the farms he deals with operate in the same way.

“When a good environment is provided, these cows have better health and welfare metrics than cows who graze,” he said.

“That’s not to say that grazing is bad at all, of course it’s not, it is about what suits every system,” added Warren.