- Animal Equality’s most comprehensive investigation ever has uncovered widespread and deliberate animal abuse at one of Germany’s largest pig farms.
- Many of Animal Equality’s findings are in violation of European Union Law.
- The findings were broadcast on Germany’s top news channel and attracted millions of viewers.
- Animal Equality has filed a complaint with the relevant authorities.
An undercover investigator for Animal Equality spent four months inside one of Germany’s largest pig farms. Inside the facility, which houses some 25,000 pigs, the investigator documented routine violence and neglect. At 120 days, it was Animal Equality’s longest undercover investigation.
The footage was broadcast live on Germany’s top national television channel—The First—in a program called ContrastIn Germany, the press is still reporting on the incident.
Worrying findings
The investigation revealed a number of cases of cruelty, some of which violated European Union law:
- A worker uses his bare hands to twist and break a piglet’s neck, a practice that is banned in Germany.
- Another worker threw a piglet’s head onto the concrete floor, killing it.
- A wounded pig was unsuccessfully chased and stunned with a nail gun. The nail was lodged in the animal’s skull, and then the worker beat the pig to the ground with a wooden stick and slit its throat.
- A worker stands with his boot on a piglet’s neck, cutting its throat without stunning it first.
- A piglet, cut up at the so-called ‘slaughter table’, was later found under a pile of corpses, still breathing.
- A worker pushed a piglet to the floor as punishment for not moving, then sat on the piglet and punched it repeatedly in the face.
- Workers are painting the body of a wriggling piglet for entertainment.
Alarmingly, larger piglets are castrated by a veterinarian who hangs them from a ladder and cuts their stomachs open. Some pigs are not properly sterilized before the cut. A piglet showed signs of pain despite attempts at sedation.
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This is clearly a case of cruel and brutal animal abuse and torture. This cannot be explained by a case of wrongdoing due to ignorance or excessive demands, but rather by deliberate, repeated and brutal cruelty to animals.
Dr. Claudia Preuß-Ueberschär and Dr. Jochen Weins, Veterinarians for Responsible Agriculture
Other common findings include the confinement of sows in ‘farming crates’. Just before giving birth, sows are kept in these small cages for five weeks until their piglets are weaned. The small space does not allow them room to turn around or lie down comfortably. The animals suffer serious, untreated injuries from rubbing against the bars.
Additional evidence suggests that piglets’ tails were being docked when they were just a few days old, in what appears to be a breach of EU regulations. Animals were regularly kicked, beaten, chased across the cage or thrown around the premises by staff.
Legal action and global response
Animal Equality has turned over extensive evidence to authorities. Criminal charges have been filed against the pig farming company and individual employees.
Our undercover investigation once again demonstrates that these conditions are not exceptional or isolated cases. Our footage clearly shows that abuse, neglect and unlawful killing are an integral part of the system.
Vanessa Raith, Director of Animal Equality in Germany
Action for pigs
Despite the disturbing footage – which has received more than 24 million views and 5 million video views in Germany alone – Animal Equality notes that similar cruelty has been found on factory farms in Spain, Italy and Mexico. This not only represents widespread cruelty, but also calls for a global response.
As Germans demand better treatment for pigs and other animals, Animal Equality launched a petition to end factory farming in the United States. By signing the petition, you can signal to the U.S. government that animal cruelty is unacceptable, no matter where it takes place.
{firstname}, thank you for signing this petition to help animals.
Your voice is important as we create a world where all animals are respected and protected. Please help us continue to spread this message and please share this petition with your friends and family.
Share this petition
You can end this cruelty! Sign the petition calling for an end to factory farming in the United States.
Meanwhile, replacing meat, eggs, and dairy with sustainable, humane proteins is the most effective way to end cruelty to pigs and other farmed animals. For those who don’t know where to start, Love Veg has compiled a plant-based cookbook with delicious, animal-free recipes. Get your copy today!
SAVE ANIMALS FROM ABUSE
Pigs, cows, and other animals feel pain too and deserve to be protected from abuse.
You can protect these intelligent animals simply by choosing plant-based alternatives.
