The RSPCA has condemned as “completely unacceptable” a series of violent attacks on cows at two dairy farms that supply milk for the production of Cathedral City cheese.
Shocking Footage Reveals Systematic Abuse
Secret filming by animal-rights activist and filmmaker Joey Carbstrong documented workers at Polshea Farm in Bodmin and Trevear Farm in Penzance engaging in widespread acts of cruelty. The footage, some of which was captured in April 2025, shows workers jabbing cows with sharp objects, hitting them with metal brooms and plastic pipes, and punching, slapping, and kicking the animals.
In one particularly disturbing instance at Polshea Farm, a cow became trapped in a milking carousel and was subjected to what was described as a “frenzied assault,” including being punched in the face. The video also shows workers on both farms inserting rods into the rectums of cows to force them to stand. Activists claim the animals were controlled through “force and fear.”
Jenny L Mace, an associate lecturer in animal welfare at the University of Winchester, reviewed the footage and identified 64 separate cases at Polshea Farm that she believes were illegal. Footage from Trevear Farm in 2022 allegedly contained 40 similar cases of illegal behaviour.
Immediate Fallout and Supplier Suspension
Following the release of the footage, Dairy Crest Limited, which trades as Saputo Dairy UK, took swift action. The company, one of the UK's largest dairy producers, suspended Polshea Farm as a supplier for two weeks.
A spokesperson for Saputo stated: “We care deeply about the way the milk we source is produced and do not condone any act of animal cruelty. The footage shared is disturbing and offends the values of our customers, consumers, and employees alike.” The Red Tractor farming assurance scheme also suspended the farm’s certification.
In response to the scandal, Saputo has mandated a series of corrective measures for the farm, including professional anger-management training for staff, comprehensive animal-handling training, the installation of CCTV, and the appointment of a dedicated staff member for animal safety.
Ongoing Investigations and Industry Concerns
Official bodies have launched their own probes. Both the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Cornwall Council have confirmed that animal-welfare investigations at the two farms are ongoing.
An RSPCA spokesperson emphasised the severity of the acts, noting the footage showed staff “kicking, hitting, prodding and shoving cows, sometimes with gates, poles and vehicles, including those seemingly unable to stand. This will have caused significant distress and pain to the cows.”
Mr Carbstrong criticised the dairy industry's response, highlighting that Saputo had initially warned farmers to be “more vigilant” against strangers rather than directly addressing the abuse. He argued this case exposes a systemic problem within the UK dairy industry, stating, “From the milk in people’s tea to the cheese on their pizzas, the products of this system reach almost every household in the country.”
