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RSPCA calls for a ban on intensive pig farming
Released on Monday 23, November 2009
The RSPCA’s Tasmanian Branch is calling on Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn to put a stop to the appalling cruelty to pigs in the State’s intensive farms. The call follows a shocking expose by Animals Australia on “Sixty Minutes” last night into Australia’s intensive pig farming industry.
President and Launceston veterinarian Dr Paul Swiatkowski said:-
“Like everyone else who saw the expose on “Sixty Minutes” last night, I was shocked at the horrific conditions under which these highly intelligent, sensitive and clean animals are kept. Tasmania has the opportunity to lead the country by not passing the National Code of Practice relating to pigs into regulation. The Minister did ask the AWAC (Animal Welfare Advisory Committee) for its opinion on the severe confinement of pigs, and is yet to make a decision, so we would be urging him to take a stand for the pigs”.
In Australia it is legal to keep breeding pigs in individual metal and concrete crates barely larger than their bodies for their entire 4 month pregnancy despite these cruel devices having been banned in the UK for a decade. Animals are so tightly confined that they cannot turn around or stretch their legs out when lying. Mother pigs have no choice but to give birth on a hard metal or concrete floor in the same area that they toilet. Pig producers are shielded from cruelty prosecutions by an industry Code of Practice. The RSPCA in Tasmania believes that consumers do not want cheaper meat that comes at such a cruelly high price for the animals. This fact was highlighted by the outcry following an investigation by animal advocate Emma Haswell into shocking conditions at a pig farm in Tasmania’s north which was featured on the ABC’s ‘Stateline’, and now again on “Sixty Minutes”.
“We cannot believe that the Tasmanian community would support these terrible conditions for pigs now that they have seen the evidence”, Dr Swiatkowski continued. “It is important that the Tasmanian government now shows that it is as ‘kind, clever and connected’ as it claims to be”, he concluded
Photos and video footage are available from www.savebabe.com.au
For further information, please contact Dr Paul Swiatkowski on 0417 169921 and visit www.animalsaustralia.org.au for what you can do to help.
Download assets/files/media-releases/Pig campaign media release.pdf.