An aggressive worker is filmed repeatedly abusing the young animals on video filmed by covert cameras
SHOCKING covert footage shows a dairy farm worker brutally punching calves and kicking cows in the face.
Animal rights campaigners have exposed "unprecedented levels of abuse"at Pyrland Farm in Taunton after they hid secret cameras on the site.
An aggressive worker is filmed kicking young calves to make them stand up, twisting cows' tails and repeatedly slamming metal gates into them.
He was also captured pinning calves to the floor and shouting obscenities in their face, repeatedly kicking and slapping nursing cows and violently throwing small calves down.
Animal Equality set up the cameras at the Somerset farm following a tip-off from a resident that animals were being systematically abused there.
The farm - which has 250 cows - is run by James Reid who said he was "horrified and distraught" by the footage.
Video from the farm, which supplies Muller Milk & Ingredients (formerly Muller Wiseman), one of the main processors used by Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and the Coop for their own-brand milks, has now been passed to the RSPCA.
Dr Toni Shephard, Animal Equality's UK Director, demanded those responsible were brought to justice.
She said: "The miracle of motherhood is routinely exploited by the dairy industry, causing enormous suffering to cows and calves.
"But to discover farm workers beating new mother cows and tiny calves takes this systematic abuse to an unprecedented level.
"We demand these violent workers be brought to justice and urge consumers to choose plant-based milks, cheeses and yogurts which are healthier than dairy products and cruelty-free."
Mr Reid claims it was the actions of just one worker that had caused concern with the RSPCA.
He added: "The RSPCA are coming and I will be discussing it with them.
"They want to interview the lad in the video - and I have not even had a chance to speak to him yet.
"Of course I am shocked to hear about it.
"We have got a lovely set up here and we have a high welfare standard for our cows.
"I am horrified by what I have seen in this video.
"I have not discussed it yet with the lad. There is only one worker involved. The RSPCA do not have a problem anyone else in the video.
"But this is clearly not acceptable what this worker has done - absolutely not.
"Of course it has an impact on us as a business. No one likes to see that sort of footage and watching it has really upset me."
Animal Equality investigators said they made multiple visits to the farm and also documented at least half a dozen cows with their back legs chained in hobbles.
Cows were also captured suffering from crippling lameness and pressure sores with one appearing to be in extreme discomfort and struggling to walk.
On one visit investigators found two dead calves lying on the concrete floor just outside of the cowshed, in full view of several nursing and pregnant cows.
Both calves were male and had reportedly been shot.
The RSPCA has been approached for comment.
Sainsbury's uses Muller Milk & Ingredients as a processor but said Pyrland Farm is not one of the 290 dairy farms which supplies milk for the store.
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