How is water used on dairy farms?
Water is essential for dairy farming. Dairy cows need a regular supply of clean water to drink whenever they want to and water is also used to wash the milking parlour and equipment following milking.
British dairy farmers take their commitment to the environment very seriously and are looking at ways to conserve water and cut costs without compromising on either animal welfare or dairy hygiene. For example, the Dairy Roadmap has set a target of reaching a 90% uptake of water use efficiency measures by 2020 (having achieved the 70% target set for 2015.