One of the UK’s largest pig producers has come under intense scrutiny again following the release of undercover footage filmed by campaign group Animal Justice Project. The investigation, which spanned several months, documents repeated breaches of welfare and systemic animal cruelty at Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire—part of Cranswick plc’s extensive supply chain.
Cranswick, a major supplier to Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and other retailers presents itself as an industry leader in responsible sourcing. Yet the footage, filmed between May 2024 and January 2025, paints a different picture: pigs with gaping untreated injuries, animals beaten with paddles and metal bars, and piglets left to die slowly in pens without intervention.
The scenes have prompted immediate action from several retailers. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and Iceland have all suspended their relationship with the farm pending investigation. Cranswick has since launched its own inquiry.
AJP’s footage shows pigs being kicked in the face and ribs, struck with a mallet, and jabbed in the eyes. Some animals appear to have prolapses and severe lameness yet are left without veterinary treatment. In one sequence, a piglet—badly mauled—lies alive for more than a day while other pigs bite at his open wounds.One worker is filmed swinging a board at piglets, shouting “Go on, get out,” while another punches an animal. Pigs with open wounds are packed into overcrowded pens alongside other injured or dead animals. The farm records show 21 pig deaths in just three days.
While the farm is certified by Red Tractor, the footage calls into question the rigour and frequency of inspections. AJP says their investigators witnessed animals with injuries that had clearly gone untreated for significant lengths of time, and allege that staff used violence to move pigs too weak to stand. They claim welfare checks lasted as little as 90 seconds for over 1,000 animals, and inspectors often failed to identify injured pigs or ongoing abuse.The group is calling for the public to boycott Red Tractor pork and for major retailers to reconsider their reliance on factory farms.
Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesperson for Animal Justice Project said: “Pigs were subjected to a barrage of violent abuse, including being hit repeatedly with paddles and a metal bar, and had gates deliberately slammed onto their fragile bodies. Some pigs were kicked in the face and head, screamed in fear and pain, and fled in panic.”
The investigation also raises broader questions about the UK’s farm assurance schemes. Despite the farm’s size and certification, the footage documents prolonged suffering in conditions that are considered standard. There’s no indication that this was a case of individual misconduct or a one-off lapse. Instead, the scenes appear to show routine handling in a commercial operation.
Red Tractor has confirmed it has suspended the farm’s certification. Cranswick said it does not condone any form of animal mistreatment and will take “appropriate action” based on its findings.
Following the release of covert footage filmed by Animal Justice Project at another of its farms, North Moor Farm, in May, Cranswick said it had fired some workers, introduced 24/7 CCTV, hired animal welfare officers, retrained staff, and commissioned an independent veterinary audits across its farms.
The footage has prompted Norfolk MPs Terry Jermy and Adrian Ramsay to call for a national inquiry into the meat industry. Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk, described the footage as "horrifying," expressing concern over potential widespread abuse at Cranswick farms in Norfolk. He emphasized the need for more frequent welfare inspections and better staff training and supervision. Ramsay, MP for Waveney and co-leader of the Green Party, called for a national inquiry into how such systemic abuse continues in supposedly 'assured' supply chains, highlighting that this was the second Cranswick farm exposed for animal cruelty.
For Animal Justice Project, this case is part of a wider campaign calling for an end to intensive pig farming in the UK. Their footage is not only hard to watch—it challenges the narrative that high welfare can be achieved on farms of this scale. As supermarkets rush to distance themselves from the abuse, campaigners are asking a more difficult question: should meat from industrial systems ever be labelled ethical?
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