UK Dairy Farmer Survey on Production Practices and Attitudes Towards Grass-based and Indoor Systems, 2018-2019

The results of a survey about UK dairy farmers' production practices and views of grass-based and indoor systems. The survey was disseminated between August 2018 and February 2019 online through social media (twitter and facebook), farming and local press and agricultural organisations and in the form of a paper survey posted to 909 Scottish farmers. Postal addresses for Scottish farmers were obtained from the Scottish government. There were 371 responses - 254 from Scotland, 76 from England, 26 from Northern Ireland and 15 from Wales. There were 237 responses to the postal survey in Scotland (additional Scottish surveys were filled in online) and 11 surveys were returned stating that the dairy farm was no longer in business, giving a response rate of 26%. The terms ‘grass-based’ system is used to refer to systems where the cows graze for part of the year. These systems may involve year-round grazing but usually involve a period of housing the cows in winter. An indoor system means that the cows are housed all year-round and do not graze.The aim of the survey was to explore farmers' current practices and their views on the economic, animal welfare and environmental aspects of different systems.