Undercover footage shows pigs being beaten and abused on British farm

Hidden cameras at Fir Tree pig farm in Lincolnshire show more than 100 incidents of kicking in 10 days

Shocking footage has emerged showing pigs being beaten and physically abused on a British farm.

Animal Equality, a leading international animal protection organisation, placed hidden cameras at Fir Tree pig farm in Lincolnshire, which is owned by Elsham Linc – one of Britain’s largest pig producers.

Fir Tree farm holds 10,000 pigs and more than 100 incidents of kicking were recorded in the 10 days secret cameras were placed at the site.

Released footage shows pigs being kicked in the face and head, the animals being hit in the face with plastic boards and workers leaving a pig which was too sick to even stand without veterinary care for 48 hours before shooting it.

The video also captures workers laughing about the abuse. Dr Toni Shephard, Animal Equality’s UK director, said it was clear they did not care about the pain they were inflicting.

“While intensive pig farms are inherently pitiless places, the brutality inflicted on these poor pigs is incomprehensible,” he said.

“The workers show complete contempt for the animals in their care and seem immune to their suffering, even when the pigs scream in pain. We demand that they be brought to justice.”

The investigation came after an anonymous tip-off and has been passed to the RSPCA.

It is the third time Animal Equality has filmed workers violently abusing animals on British farms.

In 2016 a worker on Pyrland dairy farm in Somerset was filmed slamming new-born calves to the floor and kicking cows in the face just hours after they had given birth. The worker pled guilty to two cruelty charges in April 2017.

And in 2012 two workers were filmed beating piglets to death with a metal bar on Harling Farm in Norfolk. Both men pled guilty to cruelty charges and one was sent to prison for 18 weeks.