An organic farm that supplies award-winning cheeses to upmarket retailers and farmers markets has sacked a worker over cruelty revelations.
The Bath Soft Cheese Co, which makes a number of 'supreme champion' cheeses, claims to put the welfare of its cows at the heart of its operation.
Its website even carries the mantra 'Look after your cows and your cows will look after you'.
However, campaigners from Animal Justice Project, say the evidence of seven months of secret filming on the company's dairy farm reveals alarming cruelty.
Animal Justice Project founder, Claire Palmer, said: 'Footage captured on this multi award-winning organic dairy is in stark contrast to the image portrayed by the farm'
She added: 'Callous kicking, slapping, punching, yelling and swearing at cows; the desperation and anguish of calves who cried for days after being separated from their mothers; and the pitiful individual housing afforded to youngsters for up to a month post-separation preventing play and other normal, social behaviours'
There is video evidence of at least one cow showing severe lameness, while calves only a few days old were held in narrow pens with very little room and no contact with others
A member of staff was seen slapping, punching, and kicking cows in the face; as well as hitting them with plastic pipes around their hindquarters, legs and udders.
Footage of the separation of cows from their calves showed them bellowing in distress for many hours.
There is video evidence of at least one cow showing severe lameness, while calves only a few days old were held in narrow pens with very little room and no contact with others.
The Bath Soft Cheese Co, which makes a number of 'supreme champion' cheeses, claims to put the welfare of its cows at the heart of its operation
Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, said: 'It is never acceptable to hit and kick farmed animals, particularly when they have nowhere to go, as viewed in this footage'
Images showed the calves being manhandled during so-called debudding, which involves removing their horns.
And bull calves were sent for slaughter soon after birth, rather than being reared on for beef, which is considered the most ethical approach.
Bath Soft Cheese, based around a dairy farm in Kelston, supplies organic retailers such as Able & Cole, Planet Organic and farmers markets.
Its award-winning cheeses include Wyfe of Bath, Merry Wyfe, and Bath Blue, some of which have won awards.
Hugh Padfield, whose family has been running the 240-acre Park Farm since 1914, said: 'We are horrified by the scenes of a herdsman hitting cows. It is totally unacceptable. The member of staff involved was recently hired, we have taken disciplinary action and he will be leaving the farm'
However, the owners of the business say they are
