A Dairy Story (with Q&A) (12A)
At a time when our food systems face unprecedented scrutiny, A Dairy Story offers a window into a farming innovation that brings a wealth of ecological and animal welfare benefits.
On their farm in Galloway, Wilma and David Finlay’s approach is to keep dairy calves with their mothers, challenging the fundamental assumptions about dairy farming while proving that compassion and commerce can coexist.
There are around 7,000 dairy farms in the UK. Only 21 of them follow cow-with-calf management systems and they were the first to show that cow-with-calf dairy can be done at commercially viable scale.
Their family farm in southwest Scotland now finds itself the global epicentre for rethinking the ethics of dairy farming, challenging conventional wisdom about animal welfare, profitability, and environmental sustainability in equal measure.
Set against the sweeping beauty of the Galloway landscape, A Dairy Story is both a poignant portrait of two remarkable people and a hopeful vision for agriculture’s future.
David, the farmer at the heart of the film, will be attending in-person for a post-screening discussion and audience Q&A.
If you’d like to know more about the economics of cow-with-calf dairy farming, learn what’s driving its uptake across Europe, or hear how the cows have changed as a result of raising their calves, or any other farming related queries, David will be happy to explain after we've watched the film.
David will be bringing some of the cheese made on the farm for sale during the evening.
Running time: the film is 1h18m + Q&A afterwards
IMDB reviewers wrote:
"Nothing short of stunning. It’s how a documentary should be done.”
“At its heart, it is a film made with — and quietly about — love.”
“A moving and inspiring tribute to David and Wilma’s pioneering work.”
“What an unexpected gem!”