Tesco and Red Tractor drops farm at centre of abuse video

The animal welfare and vegan charity installed hidden cameras at the Warwickshire farm (Photo: Viva!)
The animal welfare and vegan charity installed hidden cameras at the Warwickshire farm (Photo: Viva!)

Tesco has stopped supplies from a pig farm at the centre of 'disturbing' undercover footage which showed 'systematic' abuse, a charity says.

Hidden cameras, installed by vegan charity Viva!, showed workers abusing pigs at Hogwood Pig Farm, which supplies Tesco.

The retailer said the footage showed 'distressing' scenes that fell 'well below' the its welfare standards.

Red Tractor assurance scheme has also suspended the Warwickshire farm's certificate.

The footage shows piglets kicked by workers and struck with hand tools.

“These are distressing and unacceptable scenes which fall well below the high animal welfare standards we require from all of our suppliers,” Tesco said.

However, owner Brian Hobill said the footage had been edited to 'look as though we're bad farmers'.

“I can go through the video and explain quite clearly what our stockmen were doing at the time when these supposed allegations were and in every case we were actually saving animals and looking after animals,” he said.