An undercover investigation by the Animal Justice Project has revealed evidence of widespread animal mistreatment at dairy farms supplying major UK supermarkets . The footage, as reported by The Mail on Sunday, depicts workers at Arla-affiliated sites allegedly engaging in physical abuse and neglect.
360 potential welfare breaches across 15 Arla farms
This investigation highlights a growing tension between the dairy industry's marketing and its operational reality. while Arla Foods markets itself through "holistic farming" and idyllic images of cows in green meadows, the Animal Justice Project's year-long study suggests a much harsher environment. the footage shows workers kicking cows, dragging them across concrete floors with vehicles, and even using bolt cutters in a clumsy attempt to snap a metal screw from a cow's eyelid.
According to the Animal Justice Project, these failures appear to be systemic rather than isolated incidents. Claire Palmer, the group's executive director, noted that the footage reveals an industry where injury is routine and production continues even when animals are broken. The reported abuses include forcing newborn calves away from their mothers only 25 minutes after birth—well before the 24-hour window recommended by the UK Government.
Violations at George Holmes’ Dorset properties
The investigation specifically pointed to serious concerns at farms owned by George Holmes, a member of the Arla board since 2024. Despite Mr . Holmes telling Parliament earlier this year that his businesses prioritize high welfare standards, the undercover footage tells a different story at his Dorset locations.
At Littlewood Farm in Frampton, near Dorchester, workers were filmed striking cows on their udders and hitting animals with a hose. At a second farm located a short distance away in Frampton, employees were seen repeatedly slamming an overhead milking parlour lever against the backs and necks of the animals. These incidents directly contradict the high standards Mr. holmes has publicly advocated for.
The 31-hour drought at Longlands in Derbyshire
The scale of neglect was perhaps most visible at the Longlands family-run farm in Derbyshire. During the investigation, experts identified a malnourished cow that was left without water for 31 hours. This specific incident serves as a stark example of the potential breaches of animal welfare law identified by independent experts during the review of the 15 studied farms.
The report says these conditions are a far cry from the Arla brand's promises of automated cow brushes, waterbeds, and comfortable resting areas. Instead, the footage captured animals forced to sleep in straw heavily caked with urine and faeces, and workers urinating in cow pens.
Can retailers enforce the 100-rule Arlagarden standard?
While Arla has launched an immediate investigation into the footage, significaant questions remain regarding the oversight of its roughly 2,400 British farms. It is currently unclear how the company's "Arlagarden" programme—which sets more than 100 rules for farmers—failed to prevent such routine mistreatment. there is also no confirmation yet on whether the reported abuses were known to Arla management before the footage surfaced.
Major customers including Tesco, Morrisons, and Starbucks have all expressed deep concern regarding the findings. While Morrisons and Starbucks have promised to take action once the investigation concludes, the specific consequences for Arla or the individual farm owners remain unverified. The central question for the industry is whether these high-profile retailers can effectively enforce welfare standards across such a massive, decentralized supply chain.
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