Cows beaten at farm used by UK's main milk supplier

Undercover footage from a dairy farm providing milk to the UK’s largest producer has revealed staff abusing cows, slapping newborn calves and allegedly denying the animals veterinary care.

- HOLLY EVANS

Filmed at Lowfields Farm in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, staff members can be seen using pipes, kicks, and tail twisting on the cows, while injured animals appeared to be left to suffer without treatment.

Dead calves and an adult cow were allegedly left in the open, while the footage showed lame cows who were struggling to walk being violently forced into trucks, violating animal transport laws. The findings were on a farm that is part of a cooperative group of farmers called Arla, which processes and supply milk to retailers. Arla is not responsible for the farm, but it sets standards members must adhere to.

The charity Animal Justice Project is now calling on supermarkets to sever their ties with Arla, which reported £1.2bn in revenue during the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, the findings have led to a legal complaint to trading standards, with Arla, which released a statement on behalf of the farm to The Independent, stating that staff members involved have not been working at the farm since last summer.