Countryfile viewers appalled by 'downright abusive' scenes - blasting BBC for 'disgusting and cruel celebration of factory farming'

Daily Mail​

07-07-2025

Countryfile viewers were left appalled by the livestock scenes that aired on the show on Sunday night - and blasted the BBC for the 'cruel celebration of factory farming'.
The latest episode of the programme saw presenter Adam Henson 59, return to our screens as part of the special series Adam's Farming Families.
It saw Adam meet the Egglestons, a multigenerational farming family in Leicestershire, who produce milk for the local Stilton cheese.
The show also aired a number of old clips, including one where Matt Baker went to visit Richard and Pamela Lilburn in County Down back in 2021.
'The Liburns operate a zero grazing system,' the voice over explained.
'With the herds staying inside for most of the year. And since taking on the farm in 2011, the couple have invested heavily to keep their cows comfortable and content.'
They explained: 'They have fresh beds, they have comfortable mattresses, they have food on tap, they've scratchers, they've foot baths.
'You know, it's like a five-star hotel for cows.'
Footage of the cows receiving their daily delivery service of grass played out just before Matt spoke to Richard about their choice of running things on their grazing field.
'We bring this lovely lush grass to the cows,' he told the presenter. 'Every day, it's cut fresh.
'It's brought in to them, that way you get the best nutrients.'
Matt asked: 'How long have you been farming like this?'
Richard said: 'We started nine years ago. The first year we started doing it was more out of necessity.
'We had lovely lush grass that year, but the rain came and it kept raining and it kept raining, and the cows were destroying the land, and they were wasting perfectly good grass because it was so wet.'
Footage of the cows receiving their daily delivery service of grass played out just before Matt spoke to Richard about their choice of running things on their grazing field (pictured)
Those watching at home flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share how they didn't agree with how they kept the animals.
'It's bad enough having battery hens but keeping those poor cows inside for the majority of the year is downright abuse.'
'Looks really sad... a bit like keeping cats indoors that never see the light of day.'
'Absolutely disgusting, how cruel. Why is Countryfile celebrating factory farming.'
'I actually can't believe what I'm watching! Battery farming cows!! This is so cruel surely..?'
'They're chilled, they're comfy with food on tap. How about being able to roam freely & stretch their legs & run when they want to.'
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
It's not the first time viewers had complaints over an episode of Countryfile.
Back in May the show sparked a wave of complaints after a farming special left some BBC viewers furious and 'unwell'.
The special episode showcased their different techniques during lambing season and even captured a sheep giving birth.
'With the health of the animals being so important and then you've got unpredictable outcomes and of course the physical and mental strain of looking after so many animals,' Adam said. 'Lambing can be a tough time for sheep farmers.'
The programme delved into how Matt was dealing with a change in sheep breed on his farm, while Sammi and her father demonstrated how they get ewes to foster lambs.
However, the instalment was hit with backlash from some viewers who expressed their issues with what was shown on the episode.
One posted on X: 'What the lambing #CountryFile, 4/5/2025 isn't looking at is how male lambs not chosen as tups for breeding are treated, & how the male presenters on the programme would like being treated that way (ouch!!).'
'I don't understand how farmers can put all this care and attention into the wellbeing of their flocks only to then send them for halal/kosher slaughter at a later date...'
Countryfile airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.