Inside the Welsh prison where inmates milk cows

A Welsh prison boasts a unique rehabilitation feature a working farm where inmates are responsible for milking cows. HMP Prescoed in Wales is the UK's only remaining prison dairy farm, offers prisoners a chance to gain work experience with the aim of enhancing their employment prospects post-release and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.

Owned by the prison since 1939, Cilwrgi Farm is home to a herd of 120 pedigree Holstein cattle, whose milk is supplied to Tesco. The farm has recently introduced a new milking system known as VMS Voluntary Milking System which allows cows to decide when and how often they wish to be milked.

As an open prison and young offender institution located in Coed-y-Paen, HMP Prescoed accommodates category D offenders, typically those convicted of minor drug offences or non-violent crimes who do not have extensive criminal records. One inmate, Carmello, shared his positive experience working on the farm: "I've always been a hyper person, so coming up here has calmed me down because you have to be calm around these animals."

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He also expressed his newfound aspiration: "Working on this farm has made me want to work in the outside world, maybe when I get released, get a job working on a farm.", reports Wales Online.

A prison farm has recently seen the integration of advanced technology similar to that used on dairy farms across the UK. In an innovative move towards rehabilitation, inmates will now be trained in using cutting-edge robotic milking machines, which ingeniously teach cows to milk themselves - a skill they hope could secure offenders jobs upon release.

In line with new Welsh legislation, these smart machines have been rolled out at the facility. They function by allowing bovines to visit one of two milking robots as and when they feel the need to do so.

Optimistically, the Ministry of Justice envisages that prisoners trained to repair and maintain these devices will eventually fill worker shortages in the farming industry post-release. It's a widely accepted notion that securing gainful employment within a year of being released can drastically reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

Richard Gough, HMP Prescoed land-based activities manager, said: "We see a wide range of prisoners who come through the gate at HMP Prescoed the majority of which have never even set foot on a working farm before or in many cases had a regular job. We spend the time we have with them helping them learn new skills and gain new experiences such as working with animals, working outdoors, using farm machinery utilising the newest and latest technology and developing them into team players."

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"The prisoners are very much part of the team at Cilwrgi farm and share in our experiences. If we can show them that they can achieve all these things in the time they are with us and prepare them for the routine of working in a regular job having obtained a formal qualification the risks of re-offending is greatly reduced."

Abi Reader, deputy president of National Farmers Union Cymru, said: "As a dairy farmer myself I was really interested to hear of the how prisoners at HMP Prescoed were being given an opportunity like this to learn about dairy production and to acquire practical skills including animal husbandry."

"For many of them I am sure these will be new skills which they did not have before, and by gaining these in-demand skills now, I am sure it will open up numerous opportunities for them in future."

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