A farmer has been suspended from supplying milk to Arla, the UK’s largest dairy company, after undercover footage seemingly revealed cows being kicked, beaten, and struck with what appeared to be electric goads.
The video, captured by an undercover investigator working for the animal welfare group Animal Justice Project, was filmed at Lowfields Farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
The footage also appeared to show dead calves left in the open and cows struggling to walk being forced onto transport trucks.
Arla confirmed that the farmer had been suspended pending further investigation.
In a statement, the dairy major said: “The individuals in the video are no longer employed at the farm.”
An Arla spokesperson termed the actions shown in the footage as “completely unacceptable and do not meet the high standards that we expect from our farmers.”
The undercover worker, who spoke to the BBC, claimed that cows were mistreated from “the very first shift,” adding: “The group of cows are milked three times a day on rotational shifts, and every single shift cows get hit and beaten.”
Animal Justice Project said the footage revealed “routine cruelty to cows and calves, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of enforcement.”
The group also alleged that overcrowding was uncovered, with sheds designed for 125 cows housing up to 214 animals, forcing them to stand in their own waste.
Animal welfare charity RSPCA described the footage as “incredibly distressing,” with a spokesperson stating: “This is incredibly distressing and completely unacceptable behaviour. All farmed animals must be treated with respect.”
