A criminal investigation is underway against P & G Sleigh Pig Unit on the A948 in Ellon after serious breaches in animal welfare were filmed by the animal rights organisation, Animal Equality. The farm owner, Philip Sleigh, resigned his position as chairman of Quality Meat Scotland’s Pig Standard Setting Committee when his own farm was found to be in breach of the very standards he helped to set.

Pigs were shown gasping and writhing after several blows to the head with one showing signs of life for over 4 minutes. One worker was filmed standing on a pig’s neck as he killed it. Piglets considered too weak to thrive were routinely slammed onto concrete floors. Sows were seen with torn vulvas and prolapses due to multiple forced impregnations. Piglets had their tails and teeth cut with pliers without anaesthetic. Mother pigs were confined to cages so small that they couldn’t turn around or properly care for their babies. 

We applaud Tesco and Lidl for delisting this supplier’s products; meanwhile, the farm is still operating. Please sign our petition to have this pig production facility closed, call for increased enforcement of existing animal welfare laws and also for increased legal protections to be put in place for pigs.