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Countryfile viewers were left fuming after the show featured a segment on a family's intensive dairy farming practices.

The latest episode took a look back at past segments, including some from 2021, where it revisited Richard and Pamela Lilburn in County Down who have adopted a zero grazing system for their dairy farm.

This method involves keeping cows indoors most of the year to maximise milk production and cost-effectiveness, a stark contrast to traditional farming methods often showcased on the programme.

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Richard and Pamela commented on the investment they've done to ensure their cows are comfortable and happy, reports Express.

"They have fresh beds, comfortable mattresses. They have food on tap, they have scratchers and foot baths," claimed Richard, likening it to a five-star resort for cows.

Social media was ablaze with criticism, with one viewer blasting: "It's bad enough having battery hens but keeping those poor cows inside for the majority of the year is downright abuse. #countryfile."

Another viewer expressed horror, adding: "Absolutely disgusting, how cruel. Why is Countryfile promoting factory farming?"

A third commented: "Looks really sad.. a bit like keeping cats indoors that never see the light of day."

And a fourth was in disbelief, tweeting: "I actually can't believe what I'm watching! Battery farming cows! ! This is so cruel surely..?"

One person expressed their outrage, saying: "So, battery farming for cows? ? Sick, deranged people who care only for the coin in their pocket and don't give a damn about animals. Even the usual BBC agenda and spin can't help this one. Just awful."

Another concurred with the sentiment, saying: "They're chilled, they're comfy with food on tap'. How about being able to roam freely and stretch their legs and run when they want to. Vile man."

A further critic took to Twitter to slam the BBC's programme, adding: "Here's an idea, instead of cutting the grass 3 times a day, let the cows out to graze and exercise. Countryfile have shown this vile farm 3 times now. It's still not acceptable for the cows no matter how you big it up."

Countryfile is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.