Lincolnshire pig farm allegations spark fresh calls for factory farming ban

Animal rights campaigners are urging the government to phase out factory farming after a second Lincolnshire pig farm was hit by cruelty allegations.

The county has the highest concentration of factory farms in the UK, with almost 200 operating.

Two sites owned by Cranswick - Northmoor and now Somerby Top - have recently been the focus of undercover investigations.

Supermarkets including Asda and Tesco have confirmed they have suspended supplies from Somerby Top in response to the claims.

David Finney from the campaign group Humane Being said the investigations highlight the need for urgent change.

“We are asking the government to make systemic change and to phase out these monstrous kind of farms,” he said.

“If we really are a nation of animal lovers, how can we possibly condone this and allow it to happen?”

Mr Finney added that the issue goes beyond isolated cases.

“Even if you take away these extreme cases of cruelty, the animals are still in torrid conditions.

"The supermarkets can make a stand, customers can make a stand, but I think the lead really needs to come from the top. The Labour government needs to get hold of this because things seem to be getting worse.”

He pointed to official figures showing the number of written warnings to farmers over animal welfare concerns has risen sharply.

“Warnings linked to animal neglect and cruelty are up by 56%. For pigs it’s around 40%, for cows around 49%. And yet inspections have only increased by 2% - so something is going wrong.”

The covert filming at Somerby Top, which houses thousands of pigs, was carried out over a 10-month period by the Animal Justice Project. Campaigners say some of the “most severe abuse” was recorded just two weeks after the farm had been audited by Red Tractor.

Red Tractor confirmed the farm’s certification has been suspended with immediate effect, calling the footage “deeply distressing” and referring the case to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Supermarkets have also acted, with Tesco and Asda both confirming they have halted supplies from Somerby Top while investigations continue.

A spokesperson for Cranswick said the company was “horrified” by the footage, apologised “unreservedly,” and insisted the treatment seen did not reflect current practices.

This is the second time in recent months the company has faced allegations. In May, Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire was investigated following similar footage showing piglets being killed using banned methods and sows beaten with metal bars.

That farm has since had its Red Tractor certification reinstated, subject to strict conditions including unannounced welfare checks and mandatory staff retraining.

Cranswick shares fell sharply following the earlier scandal, as major UK supermarkets suspended supplies.

Cranswick said it has commissioned an independent review of its on-farm practices, with findings to be shared once complete.