Lincolnshire tops UK for farmed animal cruelty

Lincolnshire holds the unenviable title of the highest concentration of factory farms in the UK, with over 231 million animals subjected to low welfare conditions each year. The research highlights a grim reality where nearly 200 factory farms operate within the county, confining animals in intensive indoor environments designed to maximize profit at the expense of animal welfare. 

The sheer scale of this cruelty is stark when considering the population of Lincolnshire. With just over 768,000 residents, there are 300 times more animals confined to factory farms in the county than people. Nationwide, more than 10% of the UK’s factory farms are in Lincolnshire alone. 

World Animal Protection's investigation, covering the years 2017 to 2022, exposes the rise of factory farming in the UK. It found the five UK regions with the highest percentage of factory farms are: 
 
Lincolnshire: 230,981,428 animals on 192 farms 
Norfolk: 152,334,658 animals on 145 farms 
Shropshire: 158,315,125 animals on 113 farms 
North Yorkshire: 69,979,283 on 109 farms 
Suffolk: 70,263,327 on 103 farms 

The types of animals farmed account for much of the disparity in the number of animals confined per number of farms. For example, poultry farms typically cycle through more animals each year than pig farms, due to shorter lifespans and breeding patterns. Although the number of farms may vary, the low-welfare conditions are consistent across the board.

Cruel practices behind closed doors 

Factory farms are notorious for their horrific conditions. Animals are forced to live in overcrowded spaces and denied even the most basic freedoms. On these farms, 72% of piglets have their tails mutilated through a process known as docking – an agonising procedure done without painkillers or sedation. In addition, 95% of chickens are bred to grow so unnaturally large and fast that their legs can’t support their own weight, leaving them prone to painful injuries. Suffering is so normalised that hock burns, caused by chickens standing in their own waste, are widely accepted as part of the system. 

Lindsay Duncan, UK Farming Campaign Manager for World Animal Protection, says: 

Lincolnshire has always been an important farm area in the UK but the staggering number of factory farms is appalling.

Our food system needs to change. The government needs to stop greenlighting new and expanding factory farms and instead shift its support to more humane farms in the area – farms where animals can run around in the fields, play, and express their natural behaviours. There is no future for factory farming.

Public awareness 

The rise of factory farming is at odds with public sentiment. A poll by World Animal Protection found that more than 70% of UK consumers prioritise the welfare of animals raised for meat and dairy. Yet, despite this, the number of factory farms has surged, increasing by 13% in just five years, as the UK saw 209 new registered factory farms added to its roster. 

Veterinary surgeon Dr. Alex Bartlett shared his concern: 

As a vet, I have seen animals feel and experience pain, sadness, excitement, and love. To think that millions of animals are confined in factory farms in the lowest of welfare conditions is absolutely heart-breaking. As a nation of animal lovers, factory farms should have no place in the UK. I fully support World Animal Protection’s appeal to urge the government to put an end to factory farming.

The fight against factory farms 

World Animal Protection is urging the UK government to stop the approval and expansion of factory farms. Through their ongoing campaign, they are calling for a shift towards more humane farming practices, where animals can experience life beyond the confines of industrial farming.