Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons have suspended supplies from a Cranswick farm after an undercover investigation revealed animal rights abuses at the site.
The footage captured at Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire by the Animal Justice Project showed newborn piglets being swung by their legs and slammed against concrete.
Barrister Ayesha Smart has filed a formal complaint to Trading Standards, citing multiple breaches of 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.”
The farm was operated by Elsham Linc which is owned by major meat and poultry supplier Cranswick.
“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 North Moor Farm,” said a Cranswick spokesperson. “As soon as we saw the footage, we immediately suspended the team working at the farm and we are conducting an urgent and thorough investigation. We have also suspended the farm from supplying any pigs until the investigation is completed.”
It was also accreddited by Red Tractor who said the footage showed “unacceptable treatment of pigs” and that it had suspended its certification of the site.
“The disregard of the standards shown by the workers in the footage does a disservice to an industry which works hard to uphold animal welfare requirements,” said the body in a statement. “The farm will remain unassured if Red Tractor is not satisfied these standards are met.”
Cranswick Farm investigation
The investigation revealed evidence of illegal killing, botched shootings, severe abuse, animal neglect, a culture of violence, routine mutilations and intensive conditions.
Video showed evidence of piglets slammed against concrete floors and killed using blunt force trauma with some seen gasping for breath minutes after the attempted kill, having been discarded still alive.
The use of blunt force trauma for piglets under 10kg was outlawed in 2022 after repeated warnings from the UK’s Animal Welfare Committee and the EU’s Reference Centre for Animal Welfare. Both identified the method as unreliable, inhumane, and unnecessary given available mechanical alternatives.
The footage also showed adult pigs were shot with captive bolts while unrestrained and many were kicked, scratched, kneed, jabbed, had their back hair pulled and were beaten with metal bars and shovels.
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There was also evidence of a decomposing sow left in her pen for days and workers admitted pigs had not been checked, which the charity said raised concerns about routine welfare monitoring.
Staff were allegedly overheard making comments like “don’t let nobody see you doing like what we did” which the charity said suggested an awareness of wrongdoing and a deliberate effort to conceal abuse.
Also in the footage was evidence of piglets having their tails docked, their teeth ground and given iron injections within 24-48 hours of birth without anaesthetic. The investigator also filmed botched tail docking involving repeated attempts on the same piglet.
Workers described mutilating up to 80 piglets in a single day as standard practice.
’No place in modern farming’
Conditions on the farm were also intensive with thousands of pigs confined indoors on fully or partially slatted flat decks, without bedding, meaningful enrichment or outdoor access. Sows are confined in restrictive farrowing crates for around five weeks at a time – from days before giving birth until piglets are weaned at approximately 27 days old.
“That such practices are taking place on a large, commercial farm highlights a serious failure in training, management and oversight,” said former UK government’s deputy chief veterinary officer and former veterinary director at the Food Standards Agency in response to the footage. “This is unacceptable, particularly when a humane and legally acceptable alternative exists. It causes significant suffering and has no place in modern farming.”
Animal Justice Project has called for the immediate enforcement of the law banning blunt force trauma and prosecution of Cranswick, as well as an independent public inquiry into pig farming practices, regulation, and welfare failures.
Read more: Sainsbury’s and Cranswick sign 10-year meat supply deal with £60m welfare investment
“We will not be pulling any punches,” said Claire Palmer, founder of Animal Justice Project. “This marks the start of a national, sustained campaign to expose the violent realities of pig farming in Britain.
“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,” she added.
“These allegations involve unacceptable treatment of animals, which has no place in our supply chain,” said a Sainsbury’s spokesperson. “We are urgently investigating this with Cranswick, and in the meantime all supply from this farm has been suspended.”
“We take all reports of poor animal welfare extremely seriously and expect all our suppliers to adhere to our high welfare standards,” said a Tesco spokesperson. “We were shocked to see this footage and have suspended the farm in question while a full investigation is carried out.”
Cranswick was approached for comment.
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