Red Tractor terminates dairy farm membership after TV show exposes abuse

Red Tractor has removed a dairy farm from its assurance scheme after a BBC Panorama programme exposed shocking abuse of livestock by workers on the farm.

The programme, A cow’s life: The true cost of milk, included scenes of cows being repeatedly kicked and punched, calves being tipped out of a tractor bucket, and a dying cow left unattended for 24 hours.

The farm was suspended by Red Tractor after the programme aired on Monday 14 February, pending an investigation.

In a statement issued on Thursday 17 February, Red Tractor said the farm’s dairy scheme membership had been terminated with immediate effect.

“The undercover footage showed serious breaches of Red Tractor standards and the law, demonstrating a systematic disregard for animal welfare by those with a duty of care,” the statement said.

“Red Tractor’s system of routine farm inspections and unannounced spot checks go a long way to ensuring compliance with our standards.