Arla Foods Investigates Allegations of Animal Cruelty on UK Farms

Dairy conglomerate Arla Foods has launched an urgent investigation into alleged animal welfare violations on some of its 2,400 British farms following the release of undercover footage. The dairy giant, which is the largest supplier of milk to UK supermarkets, is facing scrutiny after an investigation by the Animal Justice Project reportedly captured workers mistreating cows.

The harrowing footage, obtained by The Mail on Sunday, allegedly shows instances of cows being kicked, dragged by farm vehicles, and forced to sleep in unsanitary conditions. Additional clips reportedly depict newborn calves being separated from their mothers shortly after birth, workers urinating in cow pens, and cows being marched in metal shackles. In one incident, workers were filmed attempting to remove a metal screw from a cow's eyelid with bolt cutters.

Independent experts who reviewed the evidence from 15 Arla farms identified approximately 360 potential breaches of animal welfare law, noting recurring problems across multiple locations. The farms implicated in the investigation supply milk to major retailers including Tesco and Morrisons, as well as coffee chain Starbucks.

Arla Foods, a multinational cooperative owned by approximately 11,200 farmers across seven countries, stated that animal welfare is of the utmost importance and that it takes all reports and concerns seriously. A spokesperson confirmed the launch of an urgent investigation.

Retailers have expressed concern over the allegations. A Morrisons spokesperson said the company takes animal welfare extremely seriously and expects all suppliers to meet high standards, adding that necessary action will be taken once the findings of Arla's investigation are known. Starbucks echoed these sentiments, stating the footage shows treatment that falls far short of their expectations and that they will remain in close contact with Arla during its investigation.

Some of the alleged most severe breaches were documented at two Dorset farms owned by Arla director George Holmes. One of these farms, Littlewood Farm, reportedly saw workers striking cows and punching them. At another of his farms, a worker was filmed repeatedly slamming an overhead milking parlour lever against cows’ backs and necks.

Claire Palmer, executive director at the Animal Justice Project, described the findings as indicative of an industry where injury is routine, even when the cow is 'broken.' She emphasized that the problems were systemic, appearing repeatedly across multiple Arla farms in different counties.

The investigation also highlighted a case at Marsh Farm in Dorset where a calf's body was allegedly left in a wheelbarrow for three days, contrary to government guidance. The farm in Derbyshire, also named Longlands, reportedly recorded the highest number of potential breaches, including a malnourished cow that went without water for 31 hours.

Andrew Knight, a veterinary professor of animal welfare, expressed deep concern, stating that the footage suggests the system is failing the animals it claims to protect. He cautioned that legal compliance and assurance labels should not be mistaken for guarantees of good welfare, particularly as some documented practices, like the separation of calves from mothers shortly after birth, are permitted under current rules.

Jenny Mace, an independent animal welfare expert, commented that the evidence points to systemic illegality rather than isolated incidents, highlighting a potential enforcement problem within the UK farm system. She noted that removing a screw from a cow's eyelid without proper veterinary intervention and sedation was a particularly dangerous procedure. Mace also criticized the dairy industry's reliance on self-assessment, citing Arla's own standards scheme that provides flagged farms with advance notice of spot checks.