Latest news with #pigfarming
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Secret cameraman claims 'brutality' at pig farm
An investigator who posed as a labourer to secretly film on a pig farm has described what he witnessed as shocking and brutal. The footage recorded for the Animal Justice Project (AJP) over "several weeks" at Northmoor Farm, Lincolnshire, appears to show "piglet thumping", a banned method of killing animals. Cranswick, which owns the farm near Market Rasen, said the footage was unacceptable and it had launched an independent review into its procedures. Lincolnshire Trading Standards told the BBC it was continuing to work with Lincolnshire Police following the allegations of cruelty. Speaking to the BBC's Politics North programme, the animal rights investigator said he applied for the job through a normal recruitment process. While filming covertly for AJP, he said he witnessed "brutality at every single part of that process". He claimed he saw regular "piglet thumping", a banned method of killing that involves holding a piglet by its hind legs and slamming it to the ground. He also claimed workers were "desensitised" to the "sickening sound" of the piglets hitting the floor. The investigator told the BBC he did not try to stop the actions of other workers. A section of the footage, first reported by the Mail on Sunday newspaper, shows a container piled with piglets that have allegedly been slammed. Some are still alive. The man said fellow workers failed to check if the piglets were dead, which "makes it worse". He said that although such actions were difficult to watch, what he witnessed had "strengthened" his resolve "to help animals". A spokesperson for Cranswick, which is based in East Yorkshire, said: "We were incredibly disappointed and saddened to see the unacceptable footage from Northmoor Farm. "As soon as we saw that footage we acted immediately. We suspended all of our employees and instigated a full investigation." They added the behaviour did not reflect current procedures or training. Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco all suspended use of the farm. AJP has lodged a legal complaint with trading standards, citing multiple breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing regulations. Under the legislation, using blunt trauma to kill pigs is illegal in England. Lincolnshire Trading Standards said it was taking the incident "extremely seriously". A spokesperson said it had inspected the premises and was continuing to review footage, including some not currently in the public domain. A spokesperson for Red Tractor, the certified standards scheme, said: "The disregard for the care of animals shown in the footage does a disservice to an industry which works hard to uphold animal welfare requirements. "Red Tractor always acts immediately on reports of poor animal welfare and does not hesitate to sanction members where there is evidence of non-compliance with our standards." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Review launched after pig farm abuse claims Pig farm operations suspended over abuse claims
BBC News
25-05-2025
- BBC News
Secret cameraman claims of 'brutality' at Cranswick farm
An investigator who posed as a labourer to secretly film on a pig farm has described what he witnessed as shocking and footage recorded for the Animal Justice Project (AJP) over "several weeks" at Northmoor Farm, Lincolnshire, appears to show "piglet thumping", a banned method of killing which owns the farm near Market Rasen, said the footage was unacceptable and it had launched an independent review into its Trading Standards told the BBC it was continuing to work with Lincolnshire Police following the allegations of cruelty. Speaking to the BBC's Politics North programme, the animal rights investigator said he applied for the job through a normal recruitment filming covertly for AJP, he said he witnessed "brutality at every single part of that process".He claimed he saw regular "piglet thumping", a banned method of killing that involves holding a piglet by its hind legs and slamming it to the also claimed workers were "desensitised" to the "sickening sound" of the piglets hitting the floor. The investigator told the BBC he did not try to stop the actions of other workers.A section of the footage, first reported by the Mail on Sunday newspaper, shows a container piled with piglets that have allegedly been slammed. Some are still man said fellow workers failed to check if the piglets were dead, which "makes it worse".He said that although such actions were difficult to watch, what he witnessed had "strengthened" his resolve "to help animals".A spokesperson for Cranswick, which is based in East Yorkshire, said: "We were incredibly disappointed and saddened to see the unacceptable footage from Northmoor Farm. "As soon as we saw that footage we acted immediately. We suspended all of our employees and instigated a full investigation."They added the behaviour did not reflect current procedures or Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco all suspended use of the farm. AJP has lodged a legal complaint with trading standards, citing multiple breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing the legislation, using blunt trauma to kill pigs is illegal in Trading Standards said it was taking the incident "extremely seriously".A spokesperson said it had inspected the premises and was continuing to review footage, including some not currently in the public domain.A spokesperson for Red Tractor, the certified standards scheme, said: "The disregard for the care of animals shown in the footage does a disservice to an industry which works hard to uphold animal welfare requirements. "Red Tractor always acts immediately on reports of poor animal welfare and does not hesitate to sanction members where there is evidence of non-compliance with our standards." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Cranswick launches independent review after pig cruelty claims
Cranswick will hold an independent review of its animal welfare policies and livestock operations in the UK after claims of animal cruelty at one of the supermarket food supplier's pig farms. Last week footage that appeared to show workers at one of Cranswick's farms in Lincolnshire abusing piglets was published by the Animal Justice Project (AJP), prompting the company to suspend use of the farm. According to AJP, workers were filmed holding piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. In its preliminary results for 2025, Cranswick said it aimed to have the most stringent animal health and wellbeing standards in the sector. It added that it took seriously 'any
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cranswick launches independent review after pig farm abuse claims
Meat giant Cranswick has launched an independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations after abuse claims at a pig farm run by the business. It came as the company revealed record sales and profits for the past year. The UK's largest pork supplier suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire after covert footage emerged last week appearing to workers at the site abusing piglets. Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. Retailers including Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier as a result. Cranswick has said it will not sell on any pigs which were based at the farm. Chief executive Adam Couch said in a statement that the business is now reviewing the welfare of its operations. 'We take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards,' he said. 'We are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK. 'We will provide a further update on this work in due course.' The fresh review came as Cranswick revealed sales and profits jumped over the past year. The East Yorkshire-based firm revealed revenues grew by 6.8% to £2.72 billion for the year to March, compared with the previous year. Cranswick said volumes were stronger on the back of positive demand for its luxury products and record Christmas trading. It added that fresh pork export revenues lifted by more than 10% after it benefited from the reinstatement of a contract with China. Meanwhile, the company also revealed that pre-tax profits grew by 14.6% to £181.6 million for the year.
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
African Swine Fever slashes Penang pig farms by 25pc, pork prices soar nationwide to RM18/kg
KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The pig farming sector in Malaysia is still grappling with the aftermath of African Swine Fever (ASF), which producers say has had a lasting impact on livestock numbers and remains a key factor behind the ongoing surge in pork prices. In Penang alone, the number of pig farms has dropped by 25 per cent following a major outbreak last year, The Star reported today. 'There used to be around 160 farms, but now only about 120 are still operating,' Penang Pig Farmers Association chairman Wong Fu Sheng was quoted as saying. According to Wong, who runs a farm in Valdorin Sungai Jawi, the area with the highest concentration of pig farms in Penang, said the outbreak forced farmers to reduce livestock numbers to prevent overcrowding, which could accelerate the spread of the virus. 'ASF is still our biggest challenge. Many farmers are still recovering from the losses after having to cull their pigs to contain the outbreak,' he was quoted as saying. Wong added that it takes about a year to raise a pig from birth to slaughter. He also said that only about 20 farms remain in Valdor, down from 40 before the outbreak. Penang is not the only state hit by ASF. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry previously confirmed that thousands of pigs were culled in Selangor and Melaka, resulting in a drop in pork supply and pushing prices higher. The Star reported that a whole local pig is priced at around RM1,800 per 100kg currently, up from RM1,300 to RM1,400 per 100kg a year ago. Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik, whose constituency is home to many pig farms, said the pig population had fallen drastically. 'From a peak of about 90,000 pigs, there are now only between 20,000 and 30,000 left,' he was quoted as saying. In addition to ASF, rising feed costs are putting further pressure on the industry. Wong said the price of maize, a key feed component, had spiked from RM800 per tonne before the Covid-19 pandemic to as much as RM2,000 at its peak. While the government has allowed imported pork to make up for local supply shortages, Wong urged consumers to verify the source of their meat. 'Local farms are strictly regulated. Many have adopted closed farming systems to reduce health risks, environmental pollution and to meet compliance standards. 'Consumers need to be aware that pork from some countries has been banned by health authorities. Always check that your pork is safe,' he was quoted as saying. Data from the Department of Veterinary Services, there were 401 pig farms in peninsular Malaysia and another 118 in Sabah and Sarawak as of 2023.
