Often hidden in the British countryside, ‘mega farms’ may not be recognisable to the average passer by.

Many animals are raised with no access to the outside world in very barren, boring environments. These farms are designed to maximise production and usually bear the appearance of an indistinct warehouse or industrial building. Out of sight, out of mind.

Can you imagine what it must feel like to live your entire life inside a windowless, concrete shed?

Of the 800 ‘mega farms’ operating in Great Britain, 86% are poultry farms. Despite being promoted as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to beef and pork, chicken meat is significantly destructive in comparison to plant-based alternatives. Poultry ‘mega farms’ often pump out ammonia gas caused by masses of chicken excrement into the environment, damaging local habitats and having a disproportionate effect on ancient woodland.

Despite the obvious and harrowing effects that ‘mega farms’ have on the environment, numerous investigations have unearthed millions of pounds in subsidies. In a single year, the British government provided the meat, egg and dairy industries with £70 million in subsidies, which was used to create ‘mega dairies’ and feed-lot style beef farms.

With this dangerous and irresponsible move, the government used taxpayer money to exploit animals and our environment.

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Last year, Animal Justice Project investigated an American-style beef ‘mega farm’. This zero-grazing farm is integral to the UK calf trade and is one of the many fattening farms that raises ‘surplus’ male dairy calves for beef.

Farms such as these pose a significant threat to natural habitats, causing severe water pollution from excessive animal waste. The resources required to raise intensive herds of large animals such as cows are also staggering. In fact, producing beef emits 20 times the emissions and uses 20 times the land as growing beans, per gram of protein.

During our five-month period of filming, we filmed sorrowful animals as they slept on mounds of faeces. Most were afforded no shelter. Forced to live their whole lives in filthy concrete pens with no bedding, many of the individuals we filmed suffered with agonising lameness and painfully overgrown hooves. Our hidden cameras filmed on as workers ignored the chronic suffering of lame animals, leaving them to struggle and fall in the mud.

Our findings prove that animal exploitation and the abuse of our environment come hand in hand. As long as we continue to eat animals, our natural habitats will bear the burden of our ignorance.

Millions of animals are suffering inside British ‘mega farms’ right now. We desperately need your help to continue our fight against animal agriculture. Please give today to help us protect our precious planet and the innocent animals losing their lives in the name of meat, eggs and dairy.

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