Target: Peter Giørtz-Carlsen, Chief Executive Officer, Arla Foods
Goal: Permanently end milk collection from the farm where cows were allegedly tail-twisted, shouted at and forced to walk lame across hard surfaces.
An undercover dossier published on November 3 has shaken the dairy industry. Hidden cameras at Kingston Hill Farm near Abingdon in Oxfordshire allegedly captured farmhands using excessive force and violent handling on dairy cows. The farm is a primary supplier for Arla Foods. The Animal Justice Project says its footage exposes systemic abuse across major dairy suppliers.
The footage apparently shows workers twisting cows’ tails to force them to move. Workers also allegedly launched verbal abuse at the animals. Severely lame cows were allegedly forced to walk across hard surfaces. Independent veterinary experts who audited the footage reportedly identified hundreds of potential welfare violations. Tesco and Arla suspended milk collection from the implicated farms. No criminal charges have yet been brought against the recorded workers. The RSPCA is reviewing the footage to establish who is individually liable.
A suspension is not a solution. Suspensions can end quietly once attention fades. Cows cannot report their own pain, so oversight must speak for them. Arla must make this farm’s removal from its supply chain permanent. It must also commission a fully independent investigation of every supplying farm. Sign this petition to demand that Arla acts.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear CEO Giørtz-Carlsen,
We are deeply troubled by undercover footage from Kingston Hill Farm, a primary Arla supplier. The footage allegedly shows workers twisting cows’ tails, shouting at them and forcing severely lame animals to walk across hard surfaces. Independent veterinary experts reportedly identified hundreds of potential welfare violations.
We acknowledge that Arla suspended milk collection immediately. However, workers allegedly handled animals violently while the farm sat inside Arla’s own supply chain. That raises serious questions about how routine checks missed what hidden cameras reportedly found. Customers trust that the milk they buy comes from animals treated with care.
We urge you to make the suspension permanent and to commission an independent investigation covering all supplying farms. Please publish the findings and require unannounced audits. Please also support the RSPCA’s review so individual liability can be established. Cows deserve far better than this. Thank you for acting.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Malene Thyssen
