A director of two companies wanting to develop dairy farms in the Omarama area has broken his silence because of what he calls "hysteria" over the proposals.
Richard Peacocke, who is a director of Southdown Holdings Ltd and Williamson Holdings Ltd, said housing dairy cows in cubicle barns full time for eight months of the year and for 12 hours for the remainder of the year was "not unique".
"It is widely used around the world and increasingly in Southland and Canterbury, where farmers are coming under increasing pressure to better manage their discharge of nutrients to the environment," he said.
Southdown Holdings has applied to Environment Canterbury (ECan) for resource consents to establish six stand-alone dairy farms, with a total of 7000 cows, on Glen Eyre Downs in Quailburn Rd.
Williamson Holdings wants to develop three dairy farms, with 3850 cows, at Killermont Station on State Highway 8.
A third company, Five Rivers Ltd, wants to establish seven stand-alone dairy farms, with 7000 cows, at Ohau Downs in Lake Ohau Rd.
Mr Peacocke has refused to speak to the media about the developments, saying the proper place for debate is through the Resource Management Act process being conducted by ECan.
However, he has issued a press release amid claims the operations were "factory farming", which he rejected.
He did not make any additional comment.
"We have not spoken on this matter previously because we believe, confirmed by legal advice, it is inappropriate to have this matter litigated in the media."
The developments at Omarama addressed some big issues facing the Government and dairy farmers, Mr Peacocke said.
He believed they "offered the highest possible level of management and control of the land to enhance the qualities of waterways, lakes and the environment".
In his view, the issue of cows grazing outside, projecting a clean and green dairy farming image, was "becoming a myth".
Farm environmental plans prepared for the farms offered. -
• Total control of the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorous to the environment, a primary driver to move to cubicle barns by carefully monitoring conditions and irrigation to achieve the desired results.
• Shelter provided for the animals to offset cold and damp winters and hot, dry summers.
• The production of methane from effluent collected from the cubicle barns to drive all farm requirements and provide surplus electricity to the national grid.
• Less feed required for wintering stock because they are sheltered from the cold.
• Increased production and the ability to milk all season, capitalising on winter milk premiums.
• The recovery of the cost of the cubicle barns by not having to winter-off herds - the barn costs are estimated at $2500 a cow.
• Better stock health, body weight and control of calving weights.
• The collection of the slurry by automatic scrapers, storing it to separate the solids to apply as fertiliser and using the liquid as irrigation through centre pivots at the appropriate time.
• The use of effluent to provide the bulk of pasture nutrients, over time becoming self-sustaining and organic in nature.