An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism highlights a troubling trend in the UK dairy industry, where the number of factory-style dairy farms, known as 'battery cow' farms, has more than doubled in the past decade. Currently, there are at least 180 such farms, up from about 70 in 2015. This rise is attributed to increasing production costs and market pressures, forcing farmers to adopt intensive farming methods to remain viable. The investigation found that many of these farms confine cows indoors year-round, raising serious animal welfare and environmental concerns. The largest 'mega dairies' house over 2,600 cows, significantly exceeding the average herd size of 160 cows. Farmers are selling milk for as little as 28p per litre, despite production costs of around 40p, leading to calls for fairer pricing and better regulations. The government is considering extending environmental permits to dairy farms to mitigate pollution, but farmers fear additional regulations could further strain their operations. This situation reflects broader challenges within the agricultural sector, where large corporations profit while small farmers face financial hardship.