THE FARM-based TV reality show filming in Wiltshire has come under fire from the RSPCA for mistreating a boar.

The C5 show The Farm was swamped with complaints after contestant Rebecca Loos took part in a stunt where semen was collected from the pig.

RSPCA officials said show bosses at Endemol assured them no celebrities would undertake any procedure with the animals during the show, being filmed at Heytesbury.

Endemol also promised to inform the RSPCA of any changes in format.

The society is now saying the show is pushing back the boundaries of animal safety for the sake of entertainment.

Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA's farm animals department, said: "We have been concerned from before the programme started.

"We contacted the programme makers as we were worried that they were using the animals as props and not putting their concerns first.

"But we didn't kick up too much fuss because they made certain promises to us."

Dr Wrathall has become increasingly concerned about the animals.

She said that the celebrities were asked to perform tasks that were completely unnecessary, just for entertainment. We had one celebrity who had their arm fully inside a cow, just after the vet had done the same thing.

"This is completely unnecessary and increases the risk of infection.

"When the celebrities are in any danger they are taken out of the way and protected. The animals are not given the same protection."

The RSPCA is calling for viewers to boycott the programme and for bosses to pull the show off air if the conditions persist.

The Farmers' Union of Wales and Performing Animals Welfare Standards International, an organisation to protect animals in the media, have both criticised the show.

Rona Brown from PAWSI said that although the animals were not in particular danger she was upset with some aspects of the programme.

She said: "The area that I really agreed with the RSPCA was about Rebecca Loos extracting semen from a boar.

"I think doing this is gross sleaze and totally unnecessary.

"Technicians who have been trained for years usually carry out this procedure, yet they got Ms Loos to do it just for entertainment.

"They didn't ask one of the blokes to do it, because they want it to be as sleazy as possible.

"I would have been very upset if my grandchildren had seen this."

A spokesman for Endemol said they had made their intentions clear from the outset.

"We always said the show would be evolving and changing but a qualified vet and farmer would very carefully supervise all the tasks."

The three-week show will finish this weekend, with one of the celebrities picked by the public as the reality show's overall winner.

Margi the latest to leave farm

Another week on the farm produced a varied display of patriotism, pigs and plucking.

Rob opened a can of worms early on by asking the others what they thought of Americans. Some farmhands offered less than complimentary remarks.

Rob dismissed them all and proudly defended his country.

On Sunday, the group turned their hands to plucking and gutting ducks, a task enjoyed by all.

Ritchie was voted off the farm later that day, and appointed Rob as the next farm manager.

He said: "It's like leaving your family. But on the flipside I'm going to get my trip to the pub."

Rob threw himself into his new role, telling the farmhands to do whatever they want.

On Monday, the farmhands were tested on their agricultural knowledge in a farmyard quiz.

Jeff won a baleful of goodies for the group.

Debbie turned green around the gills when she was mucking out the pigs.

Margi Clarke is the latest farm casualty, being evicted on Wednesday night.