Disturbing evidence of animal cruelty has been exposed by Animal Justice Project during an undercover investigation at a boar stud farm in Norfolk. This facility sells semen exclusively to Hermitage AI for distribution to pig farms across Britain, including farms that supply Cranswick —which provides pork, bacon, and cooked meats to major retailers like Tesco—and BQP farms (both confirmed in a telephone call with a Hermitage AI representative on 1 November 2024), certified by RSPCA Assured.
Over 800 hours of covert footage, filmed at the Innovis ‘Gene Transfer Centre (GTC) East’ in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, capture what AJP describes as blatant and unregulated animal abuse. Barrister Ayesha Smart has referred to the incidents as “clear breaches” of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The findings, campaigners say, highlight not only the hidden cruelties within the pig farming industry but also significant shortcomings in Red Tractor auditing.
The shocking investigation follows a report by Social Market Foundation highlighting that most farm inspections in the UK are conducted by industry-led schemes like Red Tractor (read the full report here). These schemes inspect farms only every 12 to 18 months, with just 3% of welfare inspections conducted by state authorities. Red Tractor, the report claims, is failing to act decisively on welfare breaches—a claim its CEO has disputed.
Despite Cranswick’s ‘farm to fork’ commitment, AJP’s investigation reveals widespread mistreatment, systemic neglect, and multiple breaches of welfare standards at the farm. The organisation claims that animals are being failed by those entrusted with their care, while industry oversight continues to turn a blind eye.
Unprecedented Suffering
Footage from the investigation captures harrowing scenes of boars collapsing and enduring mistreatment, showcasing the hidden cruelties within the stud farm sector. This hidden corner of animal agriculture, AJP says, has escaped scrutiny for too long:
Legal and Welfare Breaches: The investigation highlights potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, DEFRA Pig Standards and the DEFRA Code of Practice. These breaches include inadequate housing, neglect of injured animals, physical abuse, and wholly inadequate handling.
– Physical and Verbal Abuse: Boars were subjected to regular verbal abuse and Innovis staff struck boars over 300 times during the documented period, often using hard pipes and paddles. No staff members were seen using pig boards to guide animals, and DEFRA codes of practice clearly state that it is ‘not acceptable to strike or kick pigs’.
– Semen Collection: The investigation revealed that boars endured semen collection for the artificial insemination industry. Boars who resisted collection were physically assaulted and yelled at. Workers used homophobic and sexual insults towards the animals, highlighting a culture of cruelty at the stud farm.
– Lameness and Neglect: Many boars suffered from severe lameness and appeared to be left untreated, with no veterinary care provided during the filming days. Some animals were visibly in pain, struggling to move, yet continued to be used for semen collection.
– Filthy Conditions: Pens were often dirty and unhygienic, with urine and faeces build-up, creating slippery and unsafe conditions for the animals.
– Inadequate Living Conditions: Over 100 “Working Boars” were confined for years in cramped concrete pens, with no meaningful enrichment. Although straw was occasionally provided, boars were seen displaying signs of frustration and boredom, such as chewing on drinkers, pacing aimlessly, and fighting.
A Systemic Welfare Failure
AJP’s investigation sheds light on the broader issues within UK animal farming. While British farms are often touted for high welfare standards, official figures tell a different story:
– Around a third of official farm inspections uncover non-compliance with welfare standards.
– Just one in three non-compliance cases lead to prosecution, leaving countless instances of preventable suffering unaddressed.
In 2023/24, over 1 billion animals were slaughtered for food, meaning even a small rate of non-compliance with welfare laws translates into vast amounts of preventable suffering. Despite this, the inspection of animal welfare is largely outsourced to private assurance schemes like Red Tractor – the UK’s largest food and farm standards scheme, certifying around 50,000 farms and 80% of UK farm production.
Despite the RSPCA’s claim not to certify stud farms, it “encourages members to carry out due diligence when sourcing boar semen,” as stated in an email from the RSPCA press office to Animal Justice Project on 6 November 2024.
