A Dairy Story: Proud Partner of Compelling New Film

We are excited to announce our official partnership with A Dairy Story, a documentary about Rainton Farm’s pioneering cow-with-calf dairy system in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The thought-provoking documentary tells the story of David Finlay and his late wife Wilma as they developed Europe’s first commercially viable cow-with-calf dairy system. Unlike most traditional dairy farms where calves are separated from their mothers within 24 hours of birth, calves at Rainton stay with their mothers until they are around six months old.

A more ethical approach

Rainton is located in the heart of Scotland’s dairy industry. Increasingly surrounded by intensive, zero grazing systems, David and Wilma chose a different path for their farm, opting for a more ethical approach.

The film explores the challenges they faced whilst implementing the cow-with-calf system but also demonstrates how their hard work is now paying off. The animals are happier and heathier, with behaviours indicating a marked reduction in stress of both the calves and their mothers. Females are kept on the farm to produce milk once they are old enough and the male calves are reared for beef.