The footage was captured at Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire over a several week period last year by an undercover investigator for charity organisation Animal Justice Project.
It shows piglets being swung by their legs and slammed against concrete by people working at the farm, leaving the piglets either dead or severely injured due to the blunt force trauma. The practice – known as piglet thumping – is banned under UK law.
The footage also shows pigs being kicked, kneed, jabbed and beaten with metal bars and shovels, as well as piglets living in very cramped conditions.
The farm is operated by Elsham Linc Ltd, a farming business owned by Cranswick since 2023, and has been Red Tractor certified.
A spokesperson for Cranswick has confirmed that the team working at the farm has been suspended while it conducts an investigation. The farm has also been suspended from supplying any pigs until the investigation has been completed.
“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 spokesperson said.
Animal Justice Project released the footage as part of a new campaign called Project Pig, which it said aims 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,” said Claire Palmer, founder of Animal Justice Project.
“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.”
Barrister Ayesha Smart has filed a formal complaint to Trading Standards as a result of the investigation, accusing the farm of breaching the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (WATOK) and consumer law.
“The use of blunt force trauma to kill piglets is banned – yet it appears to be used routinely and without restraint,” said Smart.
“This isn’t just shocking, it’s unlawful.”
Meanwhile, Dr Alick Simmons, former UK Government deputy chief veterinary officer and former veterinary director at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), described the acts shown in the footage as “unacceptable”.
“The shows repeated and ineffective attempts to kill piglets using blunt force trauma,” Simmons said.
“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.
“It causes significant suffering and has no place in modern farming.”
