In November 2025, Cranswick shared the findings of the independent, veterinarian-led review commissioned to identify opportunities to improve the welfare and operating standards across the business’s pig farming operations.
The review was completed by Dr Andy Butterworth, a veterinarian professional with over 30 years’ experience and included a number of recommendations to raise the standards on Cranswick’s farms and help shape the British pig farming sector for the future.
The published review and full list of recommendations, accepted in full by the Cranswick Board, can be found here.
The recommendations include the standardisation of farming practices and procedures across all Cranswick pig farms, increased use of surveillance systems to ensure good practice for pig welfare on farms, improvements in the culture and working practices on farms, increased focus on animal health and welfare outcomes and collaboration with the industry, Red Tractor and Cranswick customers to develop improved welfare standards for pigs.
A full internal process is underway to track the progress against each individual recommendation. This will be implemented by the farm management teams with accountability for the delivery of the plan to sit with the Managing Director for the Pig Farming business. The process will be validated by the Cranswick Internal Audit team and regular updates will be provided to the Cranswick Board to ensure progress is made against the recommendations.
The full list of recommendations has been consolidated into a six-point action plan, as outlined below. These practices require changes to the working practices across the existing farm businesses and will require investment in time and facilities to ensure the plan is implemented effectively. A summary of the key actions and timings associated with each is outlined below.
|
Area |
Key Actions |
Timing |
|
|
1. |
Review of training, working practices and farm culture |
A full update of job descriptions, training programmes, livestock handling and on farm practices to be rolled out to all Cranswick farm-based colleagues. |
Policy agreement by May 2026. |
|
2. |
The introduction of standardised working practices |
A new Cranswick Pig Standard, incorporating the different farming systems, will be issued to all Cranswick farms and adopted as the standard operating procedure. |
New standard agreed by April 2026. |
|
3. |
The continued installation of AI enabled CCTV surveillance technology |
To date, over 400 cameras installed at over 40 farms. This will continue for indoor and outdoor farming units and is an ongoing process. The process for review and training opportunities continues to improve as the system is embedded across the farm estate. |
Commenced in May 2025 and ongoing. |
|
4. |
Introduce five new welfare officer roles and open a dedicated Welfare Hub |
New Welfare Officers in place with a focus on both livestock and human welfare. The role will involve training and monitoring behaviours and embedding best practice. The Cranswick Welfare Hub will be operational in Spring 2026. |
Welfare monitoring & improvements ongoing. |
|
5. |
Incorporate updated welfare procedures into Cranswick’s ESG programme with formal progress reports with the Board |
A welfare focussed research and innovation plan has been created to improve welfare outcomes in line with Dr Butterworth’s recommendations. These will be monitored and reported to the Board at part of Cranswick’s ESG programme. |
From February 2026. |
|
6 |
Invest over £40m over the next three years to modernise the pig farming operations |
The business is accelerating planned investments in flexible farrowing and modernising Cranswick farms. |
Investment ongoing. |