Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire, managed by Hull food provider Cranswick, is now facing a grave animal cruelty probe. This comes after the Animal Justice Project (AJP) conducted a covert filming operation over ten months. The footage allegedly depicts disturbing activities by employees towards pigs, such as hitting them with boards and fists, focusing particularly on sensitive areas like the nose and eyes.
These shocking findings have led major supermarket chains, including Asda and Tesco, to temporary halt their meat supplies from the farm. A representative from Cranswick has voiced their shock at the footage, recognising it as historical and inappropriate, while asserting the company’s dedication to animal welfare.
The distressing film shows inadequate slaughter and transfer of injured pigs, triggering major worries about transgressions of animal welfare laws. The farm’s certification by Red Tractor is now suspended, and the matter has been passed onto the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
This is not the inaugural time Cranswick has confronted such accusations, with similar ones having been made previously about Northmoor Farm near Market Rasen. Cranswick has consequently made significant alterations to its operations, including management reorganisation and the fitting of Artificial Intelligence-equipped CCTV to guarantee adherence to welfare standards.
The director of AJP, Claire Palmer, has labelled this scenario as “the worst ever recorded instance of cannibalism,” noting pigs bearing severe injuries and infections. The organisation has made a demand for an impartial inquiry to be conducted into the UK pig industry to tackle these dreadful conditions.
This story has been adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
