Major supermarkets cut ties with farm where animals 'beaten and left to die'

Four supermarkets have cut ties with a pig farm after an investigation detailed allegations of animal cruelty.

Tesco and Asdasaid they had suspended deliveries from Somerby Top Farm in Lincolnshire, which is run by British meat producer Cranswick. It comes after an investigation carried out by group the Animal Justice Project which found how pigs were beaten, kicked, dragged, and struck repeatedly with boards, paddles, and hands, including blows to faces, eyes, snouts, and testes.

It added that welfare checks often ignored "visible injuries and suffering, with one inspection of 1,000 pigs lasting just 90 seconds", as well as "multiple botched killings of lame piglets". Covert filming at the farm, which houses thousands of pigs, was carried out over a 10-month period by animalrights group.

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It was reported that some of the "most severe abuse" was inflicted on animals two weeks after the farm was audited by food chain assurance scheme Red Tractor. Cranswick’s Hull facility kills 35,000 pigs each week, with a £35 million expansion planned to increase capacity to 50,000.

At Somerby Top Farm, around 4,000 pigs are crammed into barren sheds, with up to 27 pigs per pen. Investigators say the footage offers a rare, sustained look at daily life on a pig farm — both before and after a Red Tractor audit. The group also claims it uncovered extreme cannibalism and prolonged suffering – including one piglet attacked for over 33 hours and another for 46 hours, both dying without intervention.

It also claims unfit pigs were transported – including those with rupturing or ulcerated hernias, open wounds, burst abscesses, and severe lameness, in breach of legal guidelines and pigs inadequately stunned with captive bolt guns and left to die.

Veterinarian Dr Alice Brough, who reviewed the footage, said: “The extreme violence shown by workers towards sentient individuals is deeply concerning. One pig is left to be cannibalised over days until he dies; it is impossible that a competent worker could miss the blood, screaming, and visible distress. Cranswick’s claims of high welfare are utterly incompatible with what we see here.”

Claire Palmer, Director of Animal Justice Project, added: “This is the worst cannibalism we have ever documented. Pigs were literally eaten alive, suffering ruptures, infections, and horrific injuries — the result of boredom, overcrowding, and despair. Cranswick created these conditions. The public should be appalled, and it’s time for an independent, public inquiry into the UK pig industry.”

Author and environmental activist George Monbiot, who viewed the footage, said: “I have never seen so many pigs in such an appalling state. This is yet another example of why pig farming must urgently be phased out.”

Red Tractor said:“This footage is deeply distressing. Red Tractor is taking this clear breach of animal welfare standards extremely seriously." It also confirmed that it has suspended its certification has been suspended with immediate effect and a full investigation is underway.

It added: “The disregard of animal welfare standards shown in the footage does a disservice to an industry which works hard to uphold animal welfare requirements.”

A Tesco spokesman said: "We take animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards. We were shocked by this footage, and we have immediately suspended the farm in question. Our specialist agriculture team is working with the supplier to carry out a full investigation."

Asda said it had "immediately suspended supply" from the farm after the supermarket was made aware of the claims. A Morrisons spokesperson said "We care deeply about animal welfare and these allegations are disturbing and unacceptable. We welcome Cranswick's urgent investigation and have immediately suspended supply from this farm until further notice."

Labour MP Terry Jermy, who opposed Cranswick's plans for a mega-farm in Norfolk, said: 'This latest footage is horrifying. I am concerned that this is another incident involving Cranswick, given their role influencing public policy as a member of the Government's food strategy board."

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, "We are appalled by the mistreatment in this footage. What it shows in no way reflects the standards of welfare and conduct we require from all of our suppliers, including Cranswick. While we understand this footage was captured before Cranswick launched a comprehensive review of its operations, until we have detailed, independent assurance that Somerby Top Farm and all other sites in the Elsham Lincs Group meet our welfare standards we have immediately suspended supply from these farms.”

Cranswick said: "We are horrified to see the unacceptable treatment of pigs at Somerby Top farm; historically recorded and brought to our attention this week. Since the North Moor Farm footage was brought to our attention in May, also over 15 months old when shared; we have installed CCTV at all of our indoor pig farms, recruited five new welfare officers, retrained all of our farm colleagues and commissioned an independent veterinarian led review across all of our farms. The staff involved are no longer with the business.”