Dairy farmers have used the platform of this year’s Pembrokeshire County Show to celebrate their work as part of a farming union's #ProudToProduce campaign.
The county of Pembrokeshire, in Wales, is renowned for its milk production, with more than 300 dairy businesses producing dairy in the county.
The annual Pembrokeshire County Show provided the ideal opportunity for dairy farmers to shout about the role they play in supplying Wales with natural favourites like milk and cheese.
NFU Cymru President Stephen James said Pembrokeshire has a 'long held tradition' as a milk producing county.
He said: “For centuries farmers in this corner of West Wales have made the most of the unique landscape and climate to set-up systems that provide milk, cheese, yoghurt and cream for the people of Wales, as well as maintaining and enhancing the local environment and supporting the local economy.
“Dairy farmers, regardless of where they are from or what system they use, are all in agreement that the key to a successful dairy enterprise is that cow welfare is king. Happy, healthy cows are paramount to every dairy business, both emotionally and economically.”
'Negative image'
Mr James said it was important that dairy farmers communicate this message with the public and counteract detractors who seek to paint a negative image of their work.
For example, dairy farmers have said they have 'suffered a blow' after the Advertising Standards Agency approved a vegan campaign which describes milk production as 'inhumane'.
The campaign, which was launched by the organisation Go Vegan World, said drinking milk is cruel to cattle as production separates calves from their mothers 'fresh from their wombs.'
Mr James continued: “As dairy farmers we need to do more to shout about what’s great about Welsh dairy and ensure the public can make a meaningful link between our work and the products they buy from the fridges of their local supermarket, farm shop or farmers’ market.”
NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire County Chairman Jeff Evans added: “As a dairy farmer I am extremely #ProudToProduce for Wales. While we have World Milk Day every year, I don’t think we do enough throughout the rest of the year to shout about the numerous health benefits of drinking milk.
“It was great that we were able to use my local county show here in Pembrokeshire to speak to the public about local milk production and ensure that they are not reeled in by some of the myths that are spread about our sector.”
