Disturbing images appear to show workers hitting piglets against walls and the floor at a farm owned by a Hull-based company.
The ‘shocking’ mistreatment of animals was recorded by an undercover operative at Northmoor Farm, near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. It is alleged the footage includes a banned killing method known as “piglet thumping”.
The farm is operated by Elsham Linc ltd, a large-scale indoor pig farming business owned by Hull-based Cranswick plc – a major supplier to a number of leading retailers. Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons said they had suspended their supplies from the farm.
The Animal Justice Project (AJP) has spoken out after revealing the harrowing images, in which employees appear to be forcefully swinging piglets by their hind legs and smashing them into concrete. Distressingly, some of the animals are seen struggling to breathe for several minutes afterwards.
AJP said that the images are being publicised to “expose the realities of pig farming to the British public as part of a new national campaign”.
Responding to the footage, a Cranswick spokesperson said: “The welfare of the animals we rear is of the utmost importance and we are extremely disappointed to see the unacceptable lapse of welfare standards captured at Northmoor Farm.
“As soon as we saw the footage we suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation. We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed.”
The footage, accumulated over a period of weeks in 2024 by an undercover AJP investigator, includes alleged illegal killings, extreme maltreatment, neglect of animals, routine mutilations, “botched shootings”, along with excessively cramped conditions, according to statements from AJP.
Adult pigs, including highly pregnant sows, are shown being shot with captive bolts while unrestrained. There were audible screams from one sow after the first shot.
Evidence of additional harsh treatment is visible in clips displaying pigs being kicked, scratched, kneed, prodded, their back fur yanked, and being beaten with metal rods and spades.
Workers are also seen throwing piglets across pens, lifting them by their ears, and dropping them onto hard surfaces.
AJP also reported that a decomposing sow was left unattended in her pen for several days.
The animal rights organisation claimed that workers confessed to neglecting routine checks on the pigs, raising serious welfare concerns.
Claire Palmer, founder of Animal Justice Project, said: “Piglets were tail docked, had their teeth ground, and were given iron injections within 24-48 hours of birth.
“These painful procedures were carried out without anaesthetic. The investigator filmed botched tail docking involving repeated attempts on the same piglet. Workers described mutilating up to 80 piglets in a single day as standard practice.
“Thousands of pigs were confined indoors on fully or partially slatted flat decks, without bedding, meaningful enrichment, or outdoor access.
“Sows are confined in restrictive farrowing crates for around five weeks at a time – from days before giving birth until piglets are weaned at approximately 27 days old.”
(Image: Animal Justice Project / SWNS)
In 2022, the use of blunt force trauma on piglets weighing less than 10kg was banned following repeated warnings from both the UK’s Animal Welfare Committee and the EU’s Reference Centre for Animal Welfare.
Both bodies deemed the method unreliable, cruel, and unnecessary, given the availability of mechanical alternatives, according to AJP.
Dr Alick Simmons, former Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK Government and ex-Veterinary Director at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), expressed concern after viewing the footage, saying: “This shows repeated and ineffective attempts to kill piglets using blunt force trauma.
“A humane killer was not used and no assessments were made to confirm death. At least one piglet appeared to continue breathing after the attempted kill.
“That such practices are taking place on a large, commercial farm highlights a serious failure in training, management and oversight.
“This is unacceptable, particularly when a humane and legally acceptable alternative exists. It causes significant suffering and has no place in modern farming.”
Ms Palmer said: “This marks the start of a national, sustained campaign to expose the violent realities of pig farming in Britain.
“We are demanding immediate enforcement of the ban on blunt force trauma and the prosecution of Cranswick. There must be an independent public inquiry into pig farming practices and regulatory failures.
“Ultimately, we’re calling for a legislative phase-out of pig farming in favour of a food system that no longer depends on animal suffering.”
(Image: Animal Justice Project / SWNS)
Barrister Ayesha Smart has initiated legal action by filing a formal complaint to Trading Standards, citing multiple alleged breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (WATOK) and consumer law.
Ms Smart stated: “The use of blunt force trauma to kill piglets is banned – yet it appears to be used routinely and without restraint.”
She added: “This isn’t just shocking, it’s unlawful.”
The farm was approved by Red Tractor, a quality mark which is meant to ensure rigorous standards of animal welfare.
This means supermarket shoppers buying bacon, sausages and ham which came from Northmoor will see the Red Tractor Union Jack stamp and the words ‘Certified Pork’ on the packaging – trusting that the animals were humanely reared.
Red Tractor said it would immediately suspend the farm’s certificate pending investigation.
Sir Roger Gale MP, patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, said: “The scenes shown in this footage are deeply disturbing and raise serious concerns about the standards being maintained on a farm certified by Red Tractor.
“The public deserves confidence that the food they buy is produced with care and in accordance with proper welfare standards.”