Apr13
One More for the Pigs!
Posted at 11:33 AM | Permalink
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Comments (99)
You may remember Smithfield Foods' big January announcement that it is phasing out the use of gestation crates, followed shortly by Maple Leaf Foods' decision to follow suit, and Burger King's recent adoption of a new animal welfare plan that includes, among other things, reducing the amount of pig meat it purchases from suppliers that use crates. Well, we just got word from execs at another major pig meat producer (one of the world’s largest, in fact), Cargill Foods—which we had been encouraging to follow Smithfield’s lead—that it's going to come through in a big way: Cargill has stopped using gestation crates in 50 percent of its pig factory farms!
We’re not breaking out the champagne just yet, as the company hasn't agreed to a total phase-out of gestation crates, but this is a firm step in the right direction, and just another positive sign of big changes to come throughout the industry. Of course, PETA doesn't make a secret of the fact that we don’t want any pigs bred or slaughtered for food, but the pigs who are there right now don't have the luxury of hunkering down for a long campaign to win people's hearts and minds about the injustices of industrialized farming. While we keep pushing companies behind the scenes to stop torturing animals, like, at all, millions of animals right now will experience a significant improvement in the quality of their lives. Which is pretty good for a given work day. I'll let you know once they've gotten rid of gestation crates entirely. We're working on it.





Comments
Thanks for the good news. I find the factory farming of animals barbaric. It hurts me to feel so powerless,when all I want to do stop it NOW. But, it's good to hear about a step in the right direction.
Posted by: Tina | April 13, 2007 05:17 PM
Yeah thats for the update on the advance, cant wait for them to be abolished completely. x
Posted by: Jess | April 13, 2007 07:22 PM
It's really great to hear that these improvements are being done. Millions of unheard voices are 1 step closer to providing a more humane lifestyle for these helpless animals. Who cant speak out for themselves.. Just because they don't speak like you doesn't mean they don't feel like you!
Posted by: Josh | April 13, 2007 08:05 PM
That's a good news! Hope to receive good ones again soon!!
Posted by: Valentina | April 13, 2007 08:05 PM
I am so pleased that I have decided to NOT consume anything made with an animal...I tell my friends..that I can't consume anything with a face! I have in my closet leather jackets and shoes but have realized that just throwing them out would make the sacrifice that those animals gave worth nothing so I will wear them till they are worn out, but will NEVER buy another item made from the skin of an animal, nor eat anything made from the life of another living thing...my children, while they are in my home as well as all guests live by this rule. I will not BBQ a steak for a friend nor make a Milkshake with the milk someone brings over...I leave it in their hands. My conscience needs to be clear!!! I dont just love fluffy cute animals, but all animals...I respect LIFE! I have been clean since Jan...yippee for me and yippee for all the lives I have saved!
Posted by: Angie | April 13, 2007 08:06 PM
od bless and be with with your endeaver to stop the crual treatment of animals.
Posted by: joan Brodnax | April 13, 2007 08:19 PM
Way to go, Peta! Without you and your struggle for animal justice, millions more animals would suffer unecessarily. Keep it up till ALL factory animals are treated humanely!
Posted by: Dana | April 13, 2007 08:19 PM
Congratulations on your work on behalf of pigs. A kudos to Cargill, too, for doing what is right and healthy. It's great to see PETA and Cargill working to make a better world for all. Thank you.
Posted by: healthyoak | April 13, 2007 08:24 PM
It does my heart good to read that Cargill will stop using gestration crates 50% of pigs. 100% is the answer, but it is a good start.
Posted by: Sandy | April 13, 2007 08:25 PM
Seems to be the fashion to go the 'animal welfare' route! So encouraging! Thanks PETA for all you have done and are doing to help the voiceless live better lives! ---
Posted by: Pamela Bertsch | April 13, 2007 08:37 PM
I applaud Cargill for taking this important step. PETA, keep urging them to go 100%. While we can't make the world stop killing animals, companies like Cargill can adopt changes that speak to demands of the meat-eating public. And those demands are to stop animal cruelty through industry standards like gestation crates, beak searing, and barbarically caging animals. Kudos to Cargill, now let's go for 100%!
Posted by: Reece | April 13, 2007 09:30 PM
One victory at a time until all pigs are free from cruelty. A giant step in the right direction!
Posted by: Carolelorraine | April 13, 2007 09:30 PM
I am impressed with these major companies, which are taking these steps to change. I know then that we can make a difference for animal rights!
Ever since I was a child I respected and loved every animal, even bugs. I don't make a lot of money and wish I could donate more to these funds and good causes. I believe the government should contribute more. Schools should teach more about the environment and animals, that these are things to respect and cherish, not to use for profit and think of animals as objects that don't feel. It's not just our world but the animals too.
Posted by: Crista | April 13, 2007 10:24 PM
This sounds like great news, but what will they be using instead of the gestation crates?
Posted by: fiona | April 13, 2007 10:30 PM
God Help Us Save All Animals! I LOVE IT
Posted by: Sherricatsmeow | April 13, 2007 10:34 PM
that is really good news i love pigs and when i heard this i was really happy for me and the pigs but most of all the pigs i dont get how people can be so mean to them everybody says when you eat alot that you are eating like a pig but how is that possible becuse pigs are very intelaggent and when they get full they stop eating but unlike horses they dont they eat and eat ya i know that they smell but i still love them i have about 16 pigs and i love them all.
Posted by: desi | April 13, 2007 11:03 PM
That is great news! I don't believe that using animals for food will be abolished entirely (at least for now) but making their lives a little bit better is a good start. This is a move in the right direction Cargill. Kudos to you and everyone at PETA that helped in this.
Posted by: Brett C | April 13, 2007 11:04 PM
Thank You for working towards using NO gestation crates.
Pigs are smart creatures I respect--God Bless You for removing some of the suffering they endure....
I pray one day soon that NO gestation crates wil be used, and that pigs will be allowed some exercise and fresh air.
Posted by: Lisa Allender | April 13, 2007 11:30 PM
Well done! When good news like this comes around it increases hope that animals can and will be liberated from the suffering that human beings inflict on them. It's nice to not feel despairing!
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | April 13, 2007 11:51 PM
This is good news. I guess this really is the year of the pig. :)
Posted by: Cuckoo4tofu (Chelsea D.) | April 14, 2007 12:25 AM
wow thats really great
im just a kid and me and my friends all hate animal cruelty above all else but its hard because we feel so helpless because we cant donate when our parents dont have big amounts to spare
lucky things like Peta exist so i can feel good about signing petitions and geeting my friends into free range and no veal...
keep up the gr8 work
luv Yah
Posted by: Natasha | April 14, 2007 12:41 AM
Pigs are so very intelligent and deserve so much more recognition as far as their place on our earth. My opinion comes not from exposure to any religious beliefs but rather from standing with a few very smart and "weathered" pigs in Mansfield, Massachusetts just before they were to make their unfortunate trip to the slaughterhouse. I was very young. I haven't been the same person since that day. I'm very proud to not be the same person - I only wish we could all be exposed to the very "thing" that made me feel about pigs how I feel today.
I can only hope that some great and powerful person or group of people can get rid of those horrible and most morally unacceptable (for ANY living creature, especially a pig) gestation crates forever!
Sincerely,
Amy A. Holford
Mansfield, MA 02048
Posted by: Amy Holford | April 14, 2007 01:08 AM
If there is a god or goddess where is the mercy for the innocent?
In spite of spiritual beliefs we cannot wait for supreme beings to save the helpless...it is up to us!
My heart bleeds endlessly for these poor creatures. We have strong leaders in the organization of PETA.
Never give up the writing and demonstrating for the rest of your lives. Don't get side tracked and don't be discouraged for too long at a time!...
For every victory so much work must be done by you and by me!
love,
Afra
Posted by: Afra | April 14, 2007 01:49 AM
Thank you Cargill for showing compassion for the helpless animals you cage. Thank you PETA for fighting for these wonderful creations of God.
Posted by: carol johnson | April 14, 2007 01:59 AM
Great! Finnally a good news!
Posted by: Tea | April 14, 2007 02:50 AM
Very heartwarming...I blink away tears as I pray for the suffering of these innocent animals to be completely eliminated...WHILE I am a veggie ( over 2 decades ) I realize that a large segment of the population demands
animal flesh for their meals,
I wonder how many would stop
or reduce their consumption if they were to view the revealing videos...I also wonder if the persentage would have been 100% if companies refused to buy pork
ENTIRELY if gestation crates
continued to be used. While
I was delightfully surprised
& happy to hear this news...
it also reveals just how much
leverage "consumers" of animal flesh have...perhaps
PETA could persuade companie to issue even stronger ultimatums in the future.
Facory Farms are all abour $$
refuse to spend...they will
compliy. Ask companies to be
a bit more courageous. If the
killing of farm animals can
not be stopped, the methods
can be improved so that death
comes swiftly w/out excessive
emotional & physical pain.
I believe that when an animal
dies a violent death...those who later ingest the flesh,
also ingest the hate, faer &
pain inflicted on these beautiful creatures.
Thank you PETA for moving the
welfare of these animals along a better path. Namaste
Posted by: stephanie | April 14, 2007 05:13 AM
contrats to cargill!! it is hard to get multy billion dollar companies to actually give a damn and we should not only urge other complanies to do so but truly give the companies that have made an effort the thanx they deserve.
Posted by: maritza | April 14, 2007 06:19 AM
still very sad for the one still in the crates ,..(!
Bot ..it is a step foreword made by Cargil!Fopefully with our help others will follow this changes!
Posted by: katy lifei | April 14, 2007 07:52 AM
Great job! I am so proud of you all!
Posted by: Dani | April 14, 2007 08:16 AM
This kind of good news, gives also a hope for the survival of all human beings and of our unique " mother"
called planet EARTH
and not only for some animals, who have been and are still today daily tortured -just for the lust and greadinest of some creatures calling himselves a HOMOSAPIENS instead a HOMOPREDATORYCARNIVOUS
Posted by: Romea Žbogar | April 14, 2007 08:47 AM
im ,sooo happy to hear about help for the suffering pigs,i cry all the time for all the salughtered helpless animals i thank peta for all they do.
Posted by: gloria | April 14, 2007 10:02 AM
I am SO happy that atleast 50% of these pigs at this farm are doing somewhat better. But the farm hasnt said how they housed the girls... I dont know... I dont like eating meat, and HATE the though, and there is no justifying for it >:( not nowadays. PETA you make me proud to be vegen!
Posted by: Mercedez | April 14, 2007 10:29 AM
Parabéns! É bom ler sempre quando a PETA consegue dar um paso em frente para que os animais tenham uma vida decente e sejam respeitados.
Obrigada PETA por existires.
Posted by: Maria João | April 14, 2007 10:51 AM
Parabéns! É bom ler sempre quando a PETA consegue dar um paso em frente para que os animais tenham uma vida decente e sejam respeitados.
Obrigada PETA por existires.
Posted by: Maria João | April 14, 2007 10:51 AM
WOW, I am all to happy to hear about a step in the right direction! Although I've never been 100% vegetarian I still don't think meat has to be a main meal. I've watched the video's on the factory farming of all animals and cried my eyes out. Hopefully one day we will realize that if we are going to eat animals (even sometimes) that they deserve a good life prior to being slaughtered; a countryside to graze upon, the sun over their heads, and a companion.
Posted by: Jessie O. | April 14, 2007 10:54 AM
good news for the pigs-but i won't be satisfied till there is NO factory farming.
Posted by: Linda Amador | April 14, 2007 11:02 AM
Well, I want them to know that a step in the right direction is still very FAR from buying Cargill products!
Posted by: matteo | April 14, 2007 11:03 AM
I cannot express the respect I feel for PETA and the relentless way in which you pursue this beatiful struggle to free all animals from cruelty in pursuit of the truth which is that they are not here for consumption and exploitation but to be shared in this planet and enrichen our lives! Thank you PETA you are an inspiration.
Posted by: Deanna Bollo | April 14, 2007 11:13 AM
im so thankful peta exist, what would we do without them
Posted by: michele donahue | April 14, 2007 11:59 AM
I have been a vegetarian since 1993. I also don't indulge on milk or eggs. Most dairy is not a part of my diet. My parents fed me lots of meat growing up in a very Italian family. I never wanted it. I couldn't even touch raw chicken as small child. And, just the smell of milk made me sick! One day, I thought, "enough is enough". I will live my life, my way. I still have to allow my family to indulge. However, my youngest son refuses to eat pork of any kind. I have asked him to indulge me with a veggie meal once a week. He has. I serve my husband very little meat. He actually prefers soup and salad and loves fruit. I like that. However, he grosses me out when he eats a hamburger in front of me. And, if he eats fish, just the smell of it makes me gag!
I eat at Subway everyday for lunch because it is close to the office and I can get what I want and watch them make it for me. I always have a veggie sandwich or salad. People at work poke fun at me all the time.
I am always forwarding e-mails and videos to those who will listen to the violent screams of all the innocent animals being abused and slaughtered. I will continue to make people hear me.
All who know me, know my love for animals. I would probably have an animal freedom farm if I could. Maybe someday.
Thanks for all you do!
One Healthy Vegetarian in Stony Brook, NY
Posted by: Diane Vassallo | April 14, 2007 12:05 PM
i never was aware of how very cruel the factory farming industry was to the innocent animals, im so very sorry for all the beef and pork i once used to eat, all those animals suffered horribly for my selfish eating habits, but please know i never realized all the abuse they suffered, i have since stumbling apon factory farming horrors, and researching it, ever since then 8 months ago, i have never eaten another piece of animal flesh and i vow never to do so again, i fell in love with veggie burgers and meat,i wish others would also do so, try it you will love it! i hope the animals forgive me, i have always been an animal lover and awre of the abuse they suffer, what makes me even sicker is the inhumane way in wich they are slaughtered even when they can no longer walk, this burns a hole in my very soul and i only hope KARMA truly is for real and those that hurt these animals will be punished 3 folds! is the humane slaughter law a joke or something? because it's not done humanely in my eyes at all, how would you like to be cut up while your still alive!!!!! please help them PETA, keep up your great work, i hope i have helped by no longer ingesting them, but i am sorry, i never knew of the horrors, thank god for PETA, or i still would not know today
thank you
Posted by: michele donahue | April 14, 2007 12:08 PM
Great news for the pigs thanks to the wounderful, lifechanging help of peta and peta suporters. keep up the good work! next news letter i want to see that the cages are 100% gone but 50% still a fab start.
Posted by: kea | April 14, 2007 12:34 PM
The news is good --it would be
much better if they stopped
farming animals for human
consumption--it's an outrage
that people in this day and
age still think it's okay to
slaughter harmless animals for
consumption--it's hard for me
to think that I ever ate meat--I've been a vegetarian for
over 16 years and would never
eat meat, poultry or fish again. It hurts me to think of the torture and pain these
animals go through -- I'm just
thankful for pasta, rice and
veggies.
All of us who are vegetarians
should try to promote our cause and stop the endless pain of God's greatest gift--
Posted by: sally | April 14, 2007 01:25 PM
I am very proud to be a PETA member because of the FANTASTIC work that you do to HELP and SAVE animals from the cruel hands of man. And Cargill, congratulations to you for making the move to reduce the sad plight of the pigs by 50 %
I am hopefull that this will go all the way to a 100%
Posted by: Brinda Jegatheesan | April 14, 2007 01:45 PM
This is great news indeed. As I sit here with my two little dogs, my two best friends, I can't see any difference between them and two little pigs. Thank God for PETA for giving me awareness & helping me to decide to make the change & become a Vegan. Wish all companies had the courage to make this type of change. Let's acknowledge & encourage them. Fiona xo
Posted by: Fiona | April 14, 2007 01:51 PM
its really great news...um however although ive been always been a beleiver im new to PETA never having been involved with a big organization before, as such i Have to ask...What ARE gestration crates? i have no idea What you do be on about or why they're bad...so could you fill me in?
Posted by: Robby | April 14, 2007 02:17 PM
Thank you so much, PETA! I'm a vegetarian and I love these little guys as much as I hate the "products" they make out of them. Please keep up the good work!
Posted by: Animal Luvr | April 14, 2007 02:17 PM
i'm glad to hear cargill is making to pledge to reduce the amount of precious pigs being put in crates. maybe the roles should be reversed and put ALL slaughterhouse workers in crates and see how they like it for hurting innocent animals and their babies for sheerpleasure.i've stopped eating meat for over 15 years and will never touch beef or pork again.i eventually want to make the transition to quit all meat completely.
Posted by: francelle a. | April 14, 2007 02:23 PM
For me Happiness is Justice. To have the CEOs of KFC, McD, BK, Wendy, Purdue, Tyson etc... locked inside their own factories gestation crates for a week. Then chopping off their finger tips with a dirty saw (equivalent to cutting off pigs tails and ear lobes). And then if any of them is still alive after a month, throw them in boiling water and serve their flesh in their high-class restaurants.
www.KFChildren.com
Posted by: Richard Kardan | April 14, 2007 03:47 PM
Great news for a step in the right direction.
I believe that if the industries who made profit out of cruelty really understood the the huge number of people who despise and deplore thier practises they will respond more and more, even if only on marketing angle.
Well done P.E.T.A for gathering our voices together to let them know our feelings.
Tim
Posted by: Tim Johnston | April 14, 2007 05:31 PM
I'm SO happy for the pigs who I love with all my heart -
Posted by: Merete Hansen | April 14, 2007 05:55 PM
what is so wrong with eating meat if god didnt want us to eat them he would have made them impossible to catch. I just dont see what the problem is they dont feel it at all.we also as a group of outdoorsman would hope that you wouldnt put these sorts of animal rights adds on our outdoor web sites. Thank you!
Posted by: outdoorsman | April 14, 2007 08:25 PM
It's so good to hear that the large companies are finally listening. The animals need us to defend them. They have no choice - they have no voice. The large meat producers must know that PETA is justified in what we are saying and doing or they wouldn't consent to make changes. Hooray for PETA! Hooray for the animals!
Posted by: Diana | April 14, 2007 08:29 PM
We need leadership like PETA to rule the world. My heart is one step lighter to hear the good news like everyone here. Thank you so much for all your great supreme actions and deeds and for all who pray and put into action to make this a better world for all.
Posted by: wendy lee | April 15, 2007 12:10 AM
GREAT news! Like Tina, once I was awakened to the horrors of factory farming, I just felt so depressed and down about the fact that I couldn't just go right out and stop it all. It's nice to know that changes are happening...although not fast enough. Keep it up PETA!
Posted by: Rick Woosley | April 15, 2007 12:24 AM
Gestation crates should be banned entirely . The blatant truth is that even if it done so these poor animals will be callously tortured ( as seen often in undercover investigations )before they finally give in to a horrifying and painful death. I have a mind to throw all these officials and staff of these murderous organisations in crates for the rest of their lives! It would be wonderful to see these Godless torturers die a slow death for a change. Its only fair. Hoping that not only will the crates be done away with but that a day will come when all these amazing animals will be set free forever.
Caroline
Posted by: Caroline | April 15, 2007 02:11 AM
I have been mostly vegetarian for twenty years with only a few times falling off the wagon. I recently watched one of the undercover videos of factory farming and sobbed so hard my eyes were swollen the next day. I have decided to be fully vegan now even though it is hard, and never buy leather again. I never again want to aid in the hand of cruelty. I hope that we can keep working to somehow put grace in peoples hearts so that they will naturally understand why eating meat is so horrific.Thank you to everyone who makes these hard decisions to speak up for the animals.
Posted by: Angielena | April 15, 2007 01:46 PM
Thanks for bringing the dark minds and hearts out into the light, PETA. There should come a time when all animals will be free from cruelty by humans.
Posted by: wendy lee | April 15, 2007 06:49 PM
Hola gente linda de Peta,
soy de Argentina y la verdad es que me llena de alegria conocer esta hermosa noticia. ¡Que bueno por nuestros hermanos los chanchitos!
Gracias a Dios y a Uds.
Por favor sigan luchando por todos los animalitos hermosos de este mundo.
Ojala en la Argentina pase lo mismo.
Dios asi lo quiera.
¡Los felicito!
Posted by: Isabel | April 15, 2007 09:09 PM
PETA, keep up the good work you are the voices that speak for animals.
Posted by: Rosalia | April 15, 2007 11:25 PM
Any human with a heart who knew what really happens to pigs, sheep, cows, chickens and all other "consumer products" for consumers would stop eating these good creatures.
In the old days when farms existed and life was "normal" for animals, people usually ate small amounts of meat according to the seasons and bounty of the moment and obesity was never an issue. Ahhhh " progress"!
Posted by: daylight 365 | April 16, 2007 12:54 AM
Thanks to Smithfield Food. Keep up the spirit. We all are very thankful to you.
Posted by: Nilangshu | April 16, 2007 01:29 AM
This is superb news.It is simply great to know that so many people all over the world are fighting for such a noble cause and that people are becoming aware of all the cruelties that are inflicted on these innocent and helpless creatures and are convinced that there is an urgent need to put a stop to this.
Posted by: Sucheta | April 16, 2007 02:06 AM
In response to Angie's comment on the 13th - "I have in my closet leather jackets and shoes but have realized that just throwing them out would make the sacrifice that those animals gave worth nothing so I will wear them till they are worn out, but will NEVER buy another item made from the skin of an animal, nor eat anything made from the life of another living thing" - good on you...!!! I feel exactly the same..... I went vegetarian about a month ago now, and I stopped using any products tested on animals over 2 years ago. I feel so much happier knowing that I am no longer contributing to the suffering of all those poor animals.... And like you, I too have a leather jacket..... and wear leather shoes - but getting rid of these would achieve nothing - so I will wear them out - but I am always looking for alternatives. Just because we don't necessarily have all the answers or alternatives yet, does not mean that we shouldn't do what we can..!!
Posted by: Vicky | April 16, 2007 06:12 AM
Wow great, rejoice rejoice....Great news may we all continue to work hard stop animals being kill for food!!!
Posted by: ERICA | April 16, 2007 07:58 AM
Great new's about the crates it will be "Wonderful" when they stop using them all together.
I view anyone that eat's animals and wears their skin as Neanderthal.
Posted by: Nina | April 16, 2007 09:27 AM
Not because of religion wise since 10 years ago I've cease eating pork and anything relating to this poor animal.
Posted by: yappohloy | April 16, 2007 09:43 AM
Thnx for the update i am relly glad for the step for improvment
Posted by: cameron Longwell | April 16, 2007 11:31 AM
I had a leather watch that I wore until the band broke - it had been given to me as a gift before I became vegan and realized just what happens to animals that are used for leather clothing, etc.
I also had a leather jacket that was given to me years ago, but when I became vegan I just could not wear that jacket anymore. I think the watch was easier because it was small and mostly not noticeable, but the jacket had that nauseating leather smell to it. However, I did not want to just throw it away, as others have said on this blog, so I gave it to my sister-in-law.
Now I buy shoes and purses mostly at Payless, and my watch has a plastic band. I also got a great faux leather brief case and portfolio combination from PETA's online catalogue - they say "Fake, for the animals' sake". I take every opportunity to show people that they can have nice-looking clothes without causing cruelty.
Posted by: Michele | April 16, 2007 01:01 PM
For all the gods ! A great victory, but not the war !
We still believe in the end of this !
My congratulations for you all !
Posted by: Fabio | April 16, 2007 01:14 PM
Thank you PETA for doing this great work. We had a tiny runt pig we raised in our house when I was a child, and I know how playful, precious, personable and intelligent they are. Even though I wish none of this would occur, I know that all change begins in steps and this is such a victory for someone who has been praying for and advocating this for over 30 years.
I have not eaten flesh of any animal for over 30 years, it was a moral descision for me way back then, not for health, but better health was the result. We must remember that God's law is perfect, and those in the world who eat the most animal products, themselves have the most health problems especially heart disease and cancers, and many, many die.
We teach Natural Health classes and have had many of my students give up the consumption of the flesh of our precious brothers and sisters, the creatures. Many make the discision for moral reasons not just for health. But no matter what the reason, it all saves lives and animals being abused. Hooray for all that PETA does, God is blessing your work! Thank you.
Sr. Francis Gabriel
The Little Shepherds of Saint Francis
Posted by: Sister Francis Gabriel | April 16, 2007 02:05 PM
PETA always amazes me and I get so excited to read wonderful news as this. Your efforts to help animals are so appreciated by all of us animals lovers. PLEASE continue your fights and we will continue to help you writing letters and donating time and money for such a needed cause!
Posted by: Kim | April 17, 2007 01:34 AM
Animal Cruelty has always taken a back seat. It is time to give this issue the attention it deserves and I'm with you all the way Peta. Keep up the good work and I'll keep the donations coming...
Posted by: Kathy Sutterfield | April 17, 2007 05:40 PM
some things on this site I absolutely agree with, but this one is just ridiculous. those crates protect the young from being injured and for you retarded people who don't get it. Let me explain it for you. sows aren't in those 24/7 all the time. They go in shortly before having babies and come out as soon as the babies are weaned and that isn't a couple months its a few weeks. Next thing I know you'll be burning bras again because they uncomfortable for women. Yes, I come from a farm and these crates are far from cruel. This is the dumbest thing I've seen on here. You need to pick and choose your battles, not only was this a stupid one it was a waste of your resources. I can guarantee that those who still use them aren't going to change their ways and as long as their is a request for the crates cargill or someone like them will be making them. Just so you know those sows spend most of their lives in large pens and god knows we don't need every animal in the world constantly running free especially when stupid people are still taking up so much of the space.
Posted by: Lillian | April 17, 2007 06:07 PM
PETA, I want to thank you for your dilegence! You are able to actually take small steps to improve the lives of these tortured animals and I could not get past my anger and outrage to be composed enough to gain these small steps for factory farmed animals. I would lose my temper and that would be the end of any negotiations. I just want it to stop now (as I know you do). That's why you'll keep getting my donations, you're able to accomplish this inspite of the frustration and grief we all feel.
Posted by: vegan4animals | April 17, 2007 09:06 PM
Peta,
You're my heroes! Thank you for everything you do to help these poor defenseless animals.
Respectfully yours,
Laura
Posted by: Laura Sarmiento | April 17, 2007 10:24 PM
This didn't happen because animal agribusiness cares about animals, they simply want good public relations so consumers keep consuming products of violence. Let's stop applauding animal exploiters and start working to put them out of business!
Posted by: Brandon | April 17, 2007 11:25 PM
Congratulations PETA!!!It's fantastic.
Animals deserve to live as the humans.
Animals are life!!!
Posted by: Diana S | April 18, 2007 06:28 AM
This is great news!!! I hope that soon all torture of animals will stop and people will come to their senses, THEY ARE KILLING INNOCENT CREATURES!!!
Posted by: Gracie | April 18, 2007 08:30 AM
Thank you PETA for taking on these corporate agribusinesses but let us not deceive ourselves that they have the animal's best interest at heart. The bottom line is what's feuling this; that and bad PR. Nontheless, keep on top of these S.O.Bs.
Posted by: Steve Caldwell | April 18, 2007 04:55 PM
Abattoir and Slaughterhouse are need to demolish, 'cause it's one of the horrific and cruel scene that you can see on earth.
More power PETA.,. :)
Posted by: Joey Alcantara (PHI) | April 19, 2007 05:43 AM
First and foremost I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN NOR DO I AGREE WITH PETA, birthing crates are vital for the survival of new born piglets. The sows are not careful as to where they lay and whats underneath them, even their own baby. Even though the crates may not be the most comfortable things in the world they protect the piglets and help the survival rate to stay high!
Posted by: Kelly | April 19, 2007 08:03 PM
In response to Outdoorsmen, it
is a shame you know how to use
a rifle and not your brain--
the greatest minds have always
maintained that the killing of
animals is outrageous and should be stopped. I hope you
don't have any children that you will pass on your outdoorsmen legacy..........
Remember Ghandi(if you know
who that is) said:
"The greatness of a nation and
its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals
are treated."
It is sickening that you and
others are still in the dark
ages. Get with it--become
a vegetarian.
Posted by: sally | April 19, 2007 10:40 PM
I love what you do to improve the treatment of animals.I've just stopped eating meat for the last 4 months and haven't felt better!Try to do as much as possible to help and will try to do more in the near future
Posted by: jacklyn Hoffman | April 19, 2007 10:46 PM
Wow, I never even knew what Cargill was. I've went past this one in Whiting Indiana, and there is a Lever Brothers (well Unilever now) across the street. That whole town smells really bad and I always thought it was Unilever. Guess it is both. I can't believe I had no idea. It just looked like a regular small factory!
So glad they, and many others, are phasing out gestation crates. I wish the whole world would stop eating meat though :(
Posted by: Sandra | April 19, 2007 11:06 PM
A (small) step in the right direction. I too am sorry I EVER ate meat, chicken, pork, and fish. I became a vegetarian overnight after watching "Meet Your Meat" on Peta's web site. It was, however, a long time coming since I always thought it strange seeing all those packages in the grocery stores with blood oozing out of them! Yuk, take 'em home and open them up and let the blood drain out? I also no longer eat any dairy products, and I used to eat hard boiled eggs every day.
I always have my "Meat is Murder" button on whenever I leave the house. OH, people say, "What do you eat?" People are so darn clueless. Or shall I say "brainwashed."
I drive a cab in Las Vegas and always have pictures of my three doggies hanging in the cab. Conversations are started this way, and I always say that I'm a big dog lover but that I love all animals. When they say they do too, I always ask, "Do you eat meat?" If they say yes, I say "then you don't love animals." (among other things) I also get "where can I get a good steak." That really opens the door to get on them. Hey, there's no such thing as a good steak! I usually throw in a few quotes, oh, I don't care if they don't like it. I don't like the mere idea of slaughtering helpless creatures..."We are the living graves of murdered beasts, slaughtered to satisfy our appetites." And I go on and on. I believe that a lot of people are walking around angry because they eat meat. Hey, the animals are angry when they are slaughtered and it passes on to the person eating it. I have even found, truthfully, that I don't get angry at all any more since becoming animal free!
Keep up the great work PETA!
Posted by: Cathy Sutter | April 20, 2007 12:58 AM
This is really great news...it makes me so happy to know things are really changing and its not just a far off dream!!
Posted by: michelle | April 20, 2007 04:10 AM
I worked on the Floridians for Humane Farms staff and all I can say is this news brings tears to my eyes, its time people open their eyes see what really goes on hidden away to these defenseless creatures.
I am glad I am a Vegan and I will always be, hang in there piggys there are so many who love and care about your lives. Someday.......... things will change.
Posted by: Cyndi | April 20, 2007 07:52 PM
THANKYOU PETA!!! For EVERYTHING you do. You are the voice for those who cannot speak. I love the updates. It seems for everything achieved by animals, there seems to be 20, 000 more acts of animal cruelty. We must keep all this up to save these majestic, beautiful animals. They MUST be appreciated!! THANKYOU AGAIN FOR EVRTHING YOU DO! I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER!!!
Posted by: Corrina Millar | April 21, 2007 01:57 AM
This is Great! I guess all the work, Peta does and all of us sticking together signing and emailing our Congress does help after all. Amen. Marlene Chavez
Posted by: Mar | April 22, 2007 06:44 PM
Keep up the good work. All animals, livestock or otherwise, deserve to be treated with respect and in a dignified and humane manner.
Posted by: jack o'malley | April 23, 2007 05:00 PM
Do you not realize that anything you use or eat, has somehow been associated with the use of products of animals. The very grass you walk on, the vegetables you eat, all have been fertilized--quess what one of the most popular ways to ferilize is--manure. So the next time your sinking your teeth into the great big juicy salad or having a picnic of fruit and veggies on the nice green, lush grass, remember what got it to that point!!
Posted by: carol | April 25, 2007 08:00 PM
^Yeah, because everyone knows plants can't grow without fertilizer. I mean, the world was one big desert before humans came along and started collecting cow manure to grow plants!
Posted by: Brandon | April 28, 2007 04:50 PM
It's About time that this evil human race left all animals alone as they have no right whatsoever to murder animals. I cannot bear to watch what goes on in the murder factories as i cry my eyes out and feel so helpless as i can't do anything to stop it. Those murderers are freaks because any intelligent person would not do such things to animals. Those that eat animals are to blame because they keep these bastards in business filling their dirty scumbag pockets with money. Leave Animals alone you freaks...
Posted by: Colin Jenkins | May 2, 2007 05:06 PM
Update:http://www.cattlenetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=121687
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Cargill Refutes 'HSUS's Interpretation' That It's Phasing Out Gestation Stalls
A spokesman for Wichita, Kan.-based Cargill Meat Solutions said a media report stating the company is phasing out its use of sow gestation stalls isn't true.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that in a letter to the Humane Society of the United States, which called on Cargill to follow Smithfield Foods' lead in phasing out gestation crates, Cargill explained it already has been transitioning to "group sow housing" over the past four years and has converted more than half of its production farms.
But Cargill spokesman Mark Klein told Meatingplace.com, "We aren't phasing them out. The article was HSUS's interpretation of our letter."
Asked to clarify that Cargill is not phasing out gestation stalls, Klein said, "We don't think we implied that in our letter."
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The moral of the story: Animal exploiters do not care about anything but profits! Any welfare reform always has the profit motive in mind. If it's unprofitable, they won't do it. It's in the U.S. legal code for corporations!
Posted by: Brandon | May 8, 2007 02:34 PM
I simply wished to thank you for beginning the phase out process of the gestation crates. I will inform friends and family and encourage them to buy from companies to which you distribute.
Thanks again,
Diana Denniston
Posted by: Diana Denniston | August 19, 2007 05:52 PM
As a meat and livestock major with an emphasis on livestock feeding and red meat slaughter and processing, I am very proud of the steps that my parent company, Cargill Meat Solutions has taken about abolishing gestation crates. I feel that there's a long way to go for Cargill but I am proud. Farrowing or birthing crates are humane which keeps sows from crushing piglets but I never could accept gestating crates...not all of us in the meat industry are bad people, and I am striving to ensure a humane life and death to all meat animals
Posted by: Jennifer Brdar | January 30, 2008 01:38 PM
Although I am not a vegetarian by nature(I can't give up poultry and fish but have completely been beef/pork free for over 3 years), the fact that some progress is being taken to decrease and eliminate cruelty to pigs is somewhat satisfying. The reason I sound skeptical has to do with the fact that the mistreatment of pigs will go on for a long time unless strict government regulation forces livestock companies to alter their approach. Then again I've lost all faith in government.
Posted by: Manuel | February 21, 2008 12:40 PM
I just have to say that after being alive 56 years, it's taken me this long to realize what eating meat means. I have never realized the torture these animals endure. I have to admit that for many years I wanted to keep my eyes closed. I didn't want to know so I could continue to enjoy eating all the meats I grew up. I remember talking to vegetarians from one time to another and telling them I didn't want to know about what goes on with the animals because I enjoyed the meat too much. How SELFISH was that??? I hear this reaction now from anyone I start to share my information with. It's really sad and I spent much time crying over how I ignored this very terrible thing that has tortured beloved animals. And what's worse is that I love animals. I adore my cat and dog. And then I go and eat the meat of tortured animals??? I think it's a true case of being brainwashed by our society. There needs to be more public awareness of the reality behind the roast, the bacon, etc. I think it needs to be put in front of the eyes of those who choose not to see. It shouldn't be a choice to turn away. I ask forgiveness of all the animals who gave their lives for so many who didn't care. I can't take back the years but I can go forward and inform others of what I'm learning here at Peta. Thank you so much for choosing to help the animals and for keeping the blinders off!!
Hugs from California
Posted by: RoseAnn | April 20, 2008 05:42 PM