The subject of so called "super-dairies" has been aired in Westminster by local MP Simon Hart.

The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP was speaking in a House of Commons debate looking at the current trend towards larger and larger dairy herds.

He told the debate that he came from a family of dairy farmers and represented one of the biggest milk-producing areas of the UK. He explained that the pressure put on farmers by the supermarkets had led to the change

"I am not trying to justify or promote large-scale dairy production," he said. "I am simply trying to set out what my milk-producing constituents see as an essential consequence of the supermarket grip on the industry and saying that they regard themselves as being much more likely to be able to invest decent sums in modern technology if they hve larger herds." (have changed this quote a bit...)

Large supermarket chains advertise that they are paying farmers a fair price for their milk but in fact are only paying a few producers a good price and are forcing the middle men – the dairies - buy in more cheaply, meaning that the large majority of farmers are seeing milk prices drop.

"So all those farmers who are not lucky enough to provide that supermarket – about 90 % of farmers - have been penalised as a result," he explained.

"That is the actual, factual economic context behind this important debate. That is why-there is no other reason at all-we are looking at the prospect of super- dairies, if that is the right expression.

He also outlined the welfare and eco-friendly reasons for dairying going large scale.

"There is an argument, whether it is proven or not, that indoor milk production reduces the carbon footprint of particular farms and I am aware from speaking to Carmarthenshire farmers that there is an attraction to housing cattle indoors as far as possible, because doing so reduces the risk of infection from TB and enables farmers to bulk buy feed and bedding materials."

"It is important to remember that thin, lame or ill cattle can be segregated in bigger herds, whereas in small-scale production, they can be prone to bullying by other animals in the herd.

"Being able to do such things on a larger scale, there is an argument, which I accept is unproven, that says that welfare standards can be improved. In other words, big is not necessarily bad."