Confined, deprived and isolated

The investigation film - which contains footage obtained from five Polish dairy farms as well as footage from other EU countries (the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Denmark) - exposed further welfare concerns; hungry calves repeatedly attempting to suckle an investigator’s hand; as well as evidence of poor hygiene and inadequate protection from cold temperatures. Additionally, there were incidents of EU law infringement: with calves completely unable to see and touch each other; and calves around three to four months old being kept illegally in pens that were too small for them.

This investigation reveals the cruel reality for millions of dairy calves in Poland, and across the EU. These calves are separated from their mothers hours after birth, and spend their first eight weeks in isolation, away from the comfort and support that close companionship can provide to social animals like them. This is a completely barbaric and unnecessary practice.

Malgorzata Szadkowska, Head of our Polish office

Italy - 2017

Our investigation into the dairy farms which supply the milk for Parmesan and Grana Padano cheeses, revealed that many dairy cows in Italy are living in shocking conditions.

These famous cheeses are marketed around the world as ‘high quality’. But what we found was far from the portrayed image. Parmesan and Grana Padano are, quite simply, the product of another intensive farming system.

The farms investigated are located in the Po Valley area, Italy’s agricultural heartland. A lush region with vast areas of fields. But, in defiance of logic, there are virtually no cows grazing outdoors – where a ruminant animal should naturally be. We witnessed cows trapped in filthy barns, forced to walk around in their own waste. As they are never allowed out to pasture, these animals endure such squalid conditions for their entire lives.

Our former investigators witnessed animals suffering from painful sores, lameness, exhaustion and some even looked emaciated. Indeed, many cows farmed for Grana Padano have been selectively bred for such high yields that they struggle to maintain a healthy body weight.

Dairy farming investigations