Jan25
One Small Step for a Pig …
Posted at 05:22 PM | Permalink
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Comments (10)
Today has been kind of massive as far as animals are concerned. In addition to winning the POM Campaign, we just got news that Smithfield Foods (the largest pork processor in the world) will begin phasing out the use of gestation crates in all of its farms. Gestation crates are among the most hideous torture devices employed by the meat industry, and while we'd love to see them banned, like, yesterday, this commitment on Smithfield's part is still a great step forward on an issue that we've put years of hard work into—pushing McDonald's, Safeway, Albertson's, WalMart, and others to oppose gestation crates, and speaking at Smithfield's annual meeting to raise awareness among shareholders. The Wall Street Journal covered the story today, and MSNBC ran a great piece as well, with an accompanying photograph that says more than I ever could about exactly why so many animal advocates have dedicated their lives to getting this practice outlawed:
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Smithfield gestation crate
Comments
This is a horrible picture and I'm outraged that upto these days such things are allowed. To keep a sensitive creature all the lifetime in such conditions - I'm sorry but in this case I spit in the face of such animal torturers hoping and applauding a quick change!
Posted by: Justin Gate | January 26, 2007 10:02 AM
Gestation Crates should be banned... for All these reasons
1)The Physical restriction and confinement means Obesity/Crippling Leg disorders in Pigs.
2)Most Pigs that are in Gestation cages are on a continuous cycle of impregnation and birth. Farmers does this for the sole purpose of profit.
Pregnant pigs are moved to "Farrowing Cages before giving birth" However most pigs, even younglings/piglets get separated from their parents, piglets as young as three weeks old, While the Parents are immediately re-impregnated again.
3)Pigs can develop Psychological disorders such as "Bar-biting", "Dog-Sitting" and "Mourning"
4)Most of the Gestation cages are so cramped that pigs end up excremating down the back of their legs,in worse case forms mounds in the cages itself. If cages are left unsanitized this can create health problems for pigs.
5)Denied straw/bedding to lay down comfortably
I think laws should be legislated to stop this sort of thing. This is unacceptable and in this day of age, there is no excuses.
Also for those interested/curious:-
I stumbled across on a online petition for the Ban on Fur-Farms. (The petitionsite.com or type/search BAN ON FUR FARMS.
A petition is being organised to ask Du Qinglin (Minister of Agriculture for People's Republic of China) to stop these sadsitic practices and ban fur farms in China. They need 1,000,000 petitioners, only 324 so far. Deadline is still ongoing.
Posted by: Pcb | January 26, 2007 12:27 PM
Important last line in the MSNBC aricle "The American Veterinary Medical Association and other organizations recognize gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy"
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE AVMA? Over and over again, they promote sadistic torture for animals, while they FAIL to deal with aimal health crises like overpopulation. They just sit idly by and let the animals die.
It seems that the AVMA is concerned with two things 1) making as much loot as possible and 2) doing everything they can to hurt animals
It is time for US, the consumers, to stand up to this archaic torture lobby. We need to tell our vets that we are disappointed with the AVMA, and would like to see them push this group to join the modern age and stop living in the Dark Ages
Posted by: Kelly | January 26, 2007 01:20 PM
Just writing because I got the e-mail address wrong for the petition I listed:- type BAN FUR FARMS IN CHINA. Not Ban on Fur Farms!! (or www.thepetitionsite.com/ takeaction.
Posted by: pcb | January 26, 2007 02:27 PM
DAMN THAT IS TINY. These poor pigs can't even lie down comfortably they are so crammed! This picture is outrageous.. Where do people get away thinking they have the right to mistreat/exploit anybody? This should not be acceptable. All beings deserve respect and experience pain just the same. Thank you Smithfield Foods for taking the first step.
Posted by: K | January 26, 2007 11:24 PM
I'm in year 9 at Urrbrae Agricultural High School in S.A and i'm doing a talk on keeping pigs in these small cages and i think that this is the most outrageous thing that anyone could do and strongly disagree with what these people are allowed to do. doing this has even made me think about not eating any kind of meat at all.Smithfeild Foods thankyou for taking this first step.
Posted by: Ally | February 10, 2007 12:49 AM
Finally, a step towards freeing the poor pigs.
Posted by: Clay | February 20, 2007 08:55 AM
People who disagree with keeping hogs in gestation crates are not looking at the big picture. Do you realize that by moving hogs to pins instead of crates will dramatically effect the price of pork, and the U.S. economy as a whole. There have been studies conducted at many major universities that conclude that keeping hogs in crates instead of pins is much better for there health. One example is that when hogs are put in pins instead of crates the first thing that they do is figure out who the most dominant hog is by fighting. This fighting leaves the hogs scarred and stressed out and can sometimes lead to death.
Posted by: Dusty | August 25, 2007 03:56 PM
I DON'T EAT PORK OR BEEF I AM A VEGIE
Posted by: Anonymous | October 2, 2007 08:26 PM
hey... fuck u peta u show the worst cases of livestock and that is not true in all cases i am a hog farmer and hogs get put in small cages when there breed and about to have there babys so they dont kill them it is no harm to the animals u need to QUIT treating animals like they are humans there just animals do u think any other specie would care about how they get there food
very few people are veggie lovers like u fuckers so get ur shit straight b 4 u go and publish false stories if u people have a proplem with what i am am saying email me at kelton_g_diggs@hotmail.com
Posted by: kelton diggs | December 10, 2007 07:03 PM