An 18-month hidden camera investigation into UK dairy farms has sparked a huge campaign to reveal the truth behind the industry. 

The investigation by animal rights group Surge – led by Ed Winters, AKA Earthling Ed – involved undercover investigators obtain footage from dairy farms across the UK. 

Surge told Totally Vegan Buzz the footage revealed widespread incidences of physical and emotional abuse of mothers and calves.

The group said the footage is ‘the truth’ and ‘it’s the story that’s hidden from you’.

The investigation has led to a new campaign called Dismantle Dairy. 

“Surge found repeated incidences of punching, kicking, excessive tail twisting, swearing/shouting, beating with sticks, separation of calves from their mothers, force-feeding of calves and the disposal of calves,” Surge explained. 

“Investigators also recorded HD footage during visits, capturing harrowing scenes such as dead cows and calves left to rot outside for days.

“However, rather than draw attention to individual farms and create the impression that these are isolated cases or “bad eggs”, the campaign seeks to expose the dairy industry as a whole, revealing how even standard practices such as separation at birth and removal of calves is abuse.

“Violence on dairy farms is ubiquitous and occurs in all farms.”

Earthling Ed

Prominent activist Earthling Ed  reiterated the #dismantledairy message in a statement sent to Plant Based News.

“Dismantle Dairy is a culmination of 18 months of work. We started this campaign to show that the violence on dairy farms is ubiquitous and occurs in all farms, including those associated with high ranking officials within the industry, as our on-going campaign will later reveal,” he said.

“The suffering on dairy farms is horrendous and exists both psychologically as well as physically.

“As the footage shows, dairy comes from violence, even if those acts of violence are legally condoned. The only way to end the violence is to live vegan.”

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Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

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