Cranswick has announced it will invest £40m over the next three years as part of a six-point plan to raise animal welfare standards across its pig farming operations.
This comes following the completion of an independent veterinarian-led review which has provided 44 recommendations to the business to improve standards across its farms.
The review was launched in response to footage from Animal Justice Project of “unacceptable behaviour” at Cranswick-run North Moor Farm in Lincolnshire released earlier this year, which showed newborn piglets being swung by their legs and slammed against concrete.
The independent review, led by Dr Andy Butterworth, assessed compliance with legal, industry and retailer animal welfare standards while also identifying areas for improvement.
The review involved unannounced visits to 20 separate pig farms over the summer and found that Cranswick farms were compliant with legislation and animal welfare standards. It also found there was no evidence of poor handling and treatment of pigs on farm.
“I found that the behaviours seen in the videos were not exhibited during the farm visits,” said Butterworth. “However, there is much that can be done to improve welfare standards across Cranswick operations, and across the pig farming industry, as set out in my report and in the 44 recommendations I have produced.”
Read more: Further evidence of animal welfare violations at Cranswick-owned farm
The recommendations include the standardisation of farming practices and procedures across Cranswick group company pig farms, and increased use of surveillance systems incorporating AI technology.
The review also recommended there be improvements in the culture and working practices on farms for Cranswick employees, increased focus on animal health and welfare outcomes and collaboration with the industry, Red Tractor and key customers to develop improved welfare standards.
In response to these findings, the meat supplier has committed to a six-point plan to raise animal welfare standards, including a full review of training, working practices and farm culture, and the introduction of standardised working practices across all farms.
The plan also included the continued installation of advanced AI-enabled CCTV surveillance technology, the introduction of five new welfare officer roles in a dedicated Cranswick Welfare Hub, and the incorporation of the updated welfare procedures into Cranswick’s ESG programme.
It will be investing over £40m across the next three years to improve and modernise the Cranswick pig farming operations.
“Many of the changes we have made predate this report – including removing anyone from the business who was found to have broken Cranswick standards and introducing a total ban of non-mechanical blunt force trauma at all Cranswick farms,” said a Cranswick spokesperson. “But what this report shows is there is more we can do.
“As the UK’s leading pork producer, we should go further than simply complying with the law and meeting our own standards,” they added. “We should be looking to lead the industry and raise standards wherever possible.”
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