The secretly filmed footage, published by the Animal Justice Project (AJP), shows workers grabbing piglets by their hind legs and smashing them against the floor — a banned method of killing known as blunt force trauma or “piglet thumping.”
Other disturbing footage shows sows being kicked and beaten with metal bars, as well as a failed attempt to kill an animal with a bolt gun, leaving it suffering in agony. One farm worker reportedly told an undercover investigator, “Don’t let nobody see you doing like what we did [sic].”
The footage was recorded over several weeks last year. The farm houses around 6,000 pigs in cramped pens. AJP has filed a formal complaint with Trading Standards, citing numerous breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing regulations.
AJP founder Claire Palmer stated the organization aims to “expose the violent realities of pig farming in Britain” and is demanding “immediate enforcement of the ban on blunt force trauma and the prosecution of Cranswick,” as well as an independent public inquiry into pig farming practices and regulatory failures.
The killing of piglets is legally allowed under certain conditions — for example, if they are weak, sick, or not growing fast enough — but only through humane methods. The use of blunt force trauma to kill piglets under 10kg was banned in the UK in 2022 following warnings from the UK’s Animal Welfare Committee and the EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, who called the method unreliable, inhumane, and unnecessary given the availability of alternatives such as captive bolt guns.
Cranswick stated that all staff at the farm have been suspended during the ongoing investigation. “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,” the company said.
“We immediately suspended the team working at the farm and halted all pig supplies from the site while a full investigation is carried out.”
All four supermarket chains confirmed they had halted supplies from the farm pending the outcome of the investigation. A Tesco spokesperson said, “We take all reports of poor animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “These allegations involve unacceptable treatment of animals, which has no place in our supply chain.”
Morrisons stated, “We care deeply about animal welfare and these are shocking and concerning allegations. We understand that Cranswick are investigating urgently.”
An Asda spokesperson added, “We have clear animal welfare policies that all our suppliers must uphold and we welcome the swift response and action taken by Cranswick at this farm.”
theguardian.com