Red Tractor statement on BBC Panorama’s “A Cow’s Life: The True Cost of Milk?”

Updated – 17 February 2022

Following a full investigation which examined all the evidence, Red Tractor has terminated this farm’s dairy scheme membership 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.

Red Tractor’s system of routine farm inspections and unannounced spot checks go a long way to ensuring compliance with our standards. Where there is a clear violation of our membership rules and our standards are not upheld, a farm will be terminated from our scheme.

We accept that some breaches are not always detectable during inspections, which is why we have a number of ways for individuals to share their concerns with us, including our confidential ‘Tell Us’ reporting service.

Red Tractor assures over 11,000 dairy farms which meet robust standards on animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety. Three other dairy farms were featured in Panorama’s programme, each was Red Tractor assured and represented good farming practices.

The unacceptable actions of staff on one farm in no way represents the vast majority of UK dairy farmers or British agricultural practice.

15 February 2022

Protecting animal health and welfare is a top priority and we take any allegations of breaches to our standards very seriously.

Attacking animals is unacceptable and on seeing the footage this farm’s certification was immediately suspended. A full investigation has been launched.