"Keeping cows inside almost all year is cruel and there is evidence that cows kept in factory farms suffer as a result."

A decision on the application by Nocton Dairies Ltd, a company formed by experienced dairy farmers Peter Willes and David Barnes, is expected in March.

If successful, the £34 million development north of Dunston Heath Lane and west of the B1188 at Nocton Heath would be fully operational for 3,770 cows by the end of 2012.

Sixty jobs would be created at what would be Britain's biggest dairy farm.

Celebrities, including conservationist and birdwatcher Bill Oddie, comedian Jo Brand and conservation champion Professor David Bellamy, have joined residents in voicing their opposition.

Nocton resident Deborah Wilson, said the 1,619 comments listed so far by the district council were just the tip of the iceberg.

"Opposition to this is phenomenal," she said.

"We know that there are hundreds, potentially thousands of objections, which have been submitted to the council which have not yet been uploaded to its planning portal site, not least a strong objection from Sleaford and North Hykeham MP Stephen Phillips.

His comment reads: "I think Nocton Dairies has totally underestimated the level of opposition."

The original plans for an 8,100-cow round-the-clock milking facility on the 22-acre site were withdrawn in April.

Mr Willes says environmental issues have been resolved and has confirmed the long-term aim is to milk 8,000 cows.

The scaled-down scheme would see four cattle sheds, two maternity units, one milking parlour, a holding area, feed store, one run off lagoon, two slurry lagoons and an anaerobic digestion unit built.

The proposal further includes a staff dormitory building, office, weigh bridge, internal roads and footpaths and new vehicular access to the B1188 and five agricultural workers' dwellings.

Nocton Dairies spokesman Amy Jackson said it had confidence in planning officials' ability to weigh up both application and comments on accuracy and validity.

"We only hope that a number of recent petitions with tens of thousands of signatures, crammed with invalid issues or lies, for example cows will have their tails cut off and be pumped full of growth hormones, don't swamp local concerns," she said.

"However people want to portray it, this is simply a farm, albeit bigger than we are used to."