By Brook Sabin
Opposition is mounting against corporate dairy companies who plan to house nearly 20,000 cows under cover in the Mackenzie Country.
The Prime Minister and Fonterra have this morning both come out against the move.
But Abe Deworde, the operator of a similar farm in Invercargill, is defending the system.
He says he has been housing 500 cattle in the cubicle stables for four seasons, and has seen great improvements.
“It has increased our production, our production per hectare and efficiency, because we can milk these cows longer per year,” he says.
Consent applications have been lodged for farms similar to Mr Deworde’s, but on a much bigger scale.
The three applications are for nearly 18,000 cows, which would be housed in cubicle stables 24 hours per day, for eight months of the year.
The plan has brought top level concern, with John Key disapproving of the proposal.
“I think the image implications for New Zealand are not good,” he says.
This morning Fonterra, who collects nearly 70 million litres of milk per day from farms, also come out in opposition.
Tim Deane, milk supply manager for Fonterra, says the plans for the Mackenzie Basin could undermine its international reputation for free range farming.
“It's perception more than anything else, the type of intensive fed-lot stall-based farming that's being proposed doesn't sit well with the perception of New Zealand’s pasture-based farming system,” he says.
Mr Key says while he is concerned, he is “limited” in what he can do stop the plans.
The Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, wasn't available for comment this morning, but a spokesman said the Minister does have reservations and has requested more information from MAF.
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