Imagine being imprisoned in a steel pen with not enough room to even turn around, forced to stand and lie on a tiled floor, and live a few feet above your own waste.
For the nearly 6 million pigs in the United States, this is a terrible reality, Humane Society of the United States report.
“During nearly their entire 112-115-day gestation period, most breeding sows in the United States are kept in gestation crates (also known as sow crates) – needle crates. particular type is so limited that pigs cannot turn around,” the HSUS report details, “Welfare issues with gestating cages for pregnant sows. “Sows in captivity suffer from a number of significant welfare problems, including high risk of urinary tract infections, weak bones, overgrown hooves, lameness, restricted behavior and prejudice.”
The Humanitarian Federation report.
Not only can they not turn or move, the animals also suffer from respiratory illnesses from living a few feet above their droppings, World Animal Protection report. Without stimulation or play, these extremely intelligent animals develop serious neurological problems.
“The chronic stress of captivity lowers their immunity, leaving the mother pig susceptible to disease,” writes Cameron Harsh for WAP. “This is addressed by the continued use of antibiotics, which contributes to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria and the rise of drug-resistant infections in humans.”
After the sow gives birth, the pig is moved to an equally limited cage for nursing, but cannot turn around to see her piglets for two weeks or so before they are carried away. This cycle continues, year after year, until the sow is no longer fertile and is slaughtered.
“These animals are raised as if they were parked, side by side, caged next to cages in a giant barn,” said Josh Balk, vice president of animal welfare for the farm. Farm Animal Protection said HSUS. “If this behavior was done to a dog or a cat, it would be illegal. But it has become the norm in the pork industry.”
More and more farmers and states have moved away from pregnancy cage farming in recent years. At least 12 US states have now enacted legislative bans that are in full effect or will be phased out over the coming years, ASPCA report.
Major livestock farms in the US are also implementing similar humanitarian policies of their own. Follow HSUS Reportedly, Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pig producer and the United States, and Maple Leaf, Canada’s largest pig producer, have committed to phasing out the use of gestational cribs.
Larry Pope, CEO of Smithfield Foods, said: “Our own research has demonstrated that barns are just as good as individual pregnancy cages in caring for pregnant sows.
No animal deserves to live in a cramped metal crate. Click below and help us end the use of gestational sacs in the US!
