At around 7:00 this morning, 30 supporters of Animal Rising entered Grange Dairy in Dorset. The farm, owned by J.F. Cobb & Sons, supplies so-called ‘high welfare’ milk to Marks & Spencer.
The group is asking the farm to release a calf to be rehomed in a sanctuary as a sign of good faith, as they negotiate with Grange Dairy over the need to transition towards a plant-based food system urgently.
The individuals occupying the farm can be seen comforting some of the, around 1000, calves kept in pens, isolated from each other.
Grange Dairy was previously exposed in an investigation by Animal Equality UK, which found calves as old as 6 months in incredibly cramped conditions - when the legal limit is 8 weeks [1].
A dairy farm in Dorset has been occupied by supporters of Animal Rising - the group that previously disrupted the Grand National [2]. The group is calling for a national conversation about our broken relationship with other animals and nature. They are also attempting to secure the release of a calf from the farm to a sanctuary today.
Ben Newman, one of those taking action said:
“Just like every other animal in farms across the UK, the baby cows here just want to be free and live without the threat of being slaughtered for food or repeatedly impregnated so they produce milk. The dairy industry - indeed all of animal farming - is not working for any of us, farmers included.
Exploiting these animals for our own purposes is hurting us, it’s hurting our environment, destroying our rivers, and it’s killing billions of innocent individuals each year. We need a safe and secure food system and that can only come once we all truly consider how to mend our shattered connection with all animals and create a world that is kinder to us all.” [3]
Some of the individuals at Grange Dairy are in discussions with managers at the farm, attempting to have a conversation about the release of a calf with Animal Rising today. They are trying to begin a dialogue with the farming industry; Animal Rising claims that if we are to create a safe and secure food system in the UK, then British farmers must be at its heart.
An overwhelming majority of Britons support rewilding, where land is restored to nature and given the chance to bloom. This would restore biodiversity and begin carbon drawdown [4]. Animal Rising claims that this can only be done if the government is prepared to support farmers and transition subsidies to help the industry change, with a recent survey suggesting more than 60% of farmers in Scotland would transition to rewilding or plant-based production if adequate financial support were in place [5].
Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a safe and secure plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.
ENDS.
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[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63961659 and https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/25/two-thirds-of-cattle-farms-in-north-devon-cause-river-pollution