Sir: I agree with Amy Jackson’s suggestion that animal welfare should become part of planning law (‘Learning to love the megadairy’, The Dairymen, 7 September). This would ensure animal welfare is placed at the heart of megadairy proposals, or indeed any proposals for intensive farms.

CIWF supports dairy farming that allows cows to have access to fields rather than being housed indoors permanently.

Jackson refers to our commitment to fight against the rise of the megadairy. We are indeed committed to protecting farm animals from environments that are unnatural and detrimental to their welfare. We are not targeting the dairy industry. It is true that not all small-scale farms are ‘good’ and large-scale farms ‘bad’. Nothing is so black and white. But large, intensive farms, label them what you will - factory farms, CAFOs, megafarms - are bad for the environment, bad for animal welfare, and often have a detrimental impact on human health.

CIWF is about just that - compassion for farm animals, all over the world. We do not vilify, nor single out, individual UK farmers - dairy or otherwise. However we do name those higher welfare farmers who we admire. Indeed, we offer them awards as part of our Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.

It was founded over 40 years ago by Peter Roberts, a dairy farmer who was concerned with the intensification of the dairy industry and the impact it was having on the welfare of cows. We continue his work and will continue to support dairy farming that gives cows the freedom to express their natural behaviours. As for the unfamiliarity of cows being kept indoors, I think you’ll find this is as unfamiliar to cows as it is to the public.

Philip Lymbery, CEO, Compassion in World Farming