Factory farming forces piglets to suffer painful mutilations. It is time to end their misery

Pigs are one of the most intensively raised animals on the planet. They suffer from birth to death

Piglets in the wild stay with their mothers until they turn 10 or 14 weeks old. Then they can go out into the world. This contrasts sharply with the factory-farm life they live.

Factory farms use mother pigs as breeding machines; sometimes, their piglets are taken away at three weeks of age.

Instincts denied

Mother pigs have the instinct to nest to prepare for their baby’s birth. However, she can’t do so in a steel cage at a factory farm.

Her piglets become too far away from her to be able to bond with them when they are born. Intentionally, mother pigs are bred to produce litter so large that there aren’t enough teats for all her piglets.

Mutilations that cause pain

Many people don’t know that piglets must undergo painful mutilations in the first week of their lives, sometimes without pain relief.

This involves having their tails cut, ears notched to identify them, and teeth cut.

Retaken from their mother

Also, piglets are taken from their mother to allow them to re-breed as soon as possible.

This is distressing not only for the mother pig but also for the piglets.

The risk of illness and disease in piglets born too soon is higher when they are weaned prematurely. Therefore, farmers give their piglets antibiotics to prevent them from becoming sick.

The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is contributing to the rise of superbugs. These antibiotics are ineffective in human medicine.

Change is what consumers want

We all know that people want better lives for their piglets.

World Animal Protection in 11 European countries, the Americas, and Australasia polled people to find out how horrendous the treatment mothers, pigs, and their children are subject to is.

More than 60% said that they would not buy pork from a country where pork is sourced from systems where the piglets are subject to teeth grinding, tail docking, or cutting, and sometimes without pain relief.

88% to 93% of those surveyed in each nation believe pigs should be raised with higher welfare standards.

This is not the life that pigs have to lead

Through our Raise Pigs Right campaign, we have been advocating for improved welfare standards for pigs worldwide since 2018.

Over 375,000 people have called for supermarkets, including Tesco, Walmart, and Carrefour, to improve welfare standards for pigs used in pork products worldwide. Tops Market in Thailand and Kroger USA both committed to eliminating cages for mother porcine.

Global experts from industry, government, and civil society have been brought together to discuss the barriers and opportunities for ending painful piglet mutilations. We also share our findings with other peers to improve piglet welfare.

We have released a business case that profiles how top pig producers around the globe have found better welfare practices for their piglets.

All of our questions are supported by facts

Pigs can be just as innovative as three-year-old children. They also have similar behaviors to humans. They may eat each other’s tails as they grow up in concrete pens cramped with little to do.

But removing tails doesn’t solve the problem.

Giving pigs more space, straw, or other edible material is possible, which will reduce stress and minimize tail biting.

Pigs will be happier and healthier if they stay with their mother longer before being weaned.

They are more immune and less prone to illness, significantly reducing the need for routine antibiotics. This is good news for both pigs as well as people.

Move companies to raise pigs, right

Pigs raised in factory farms must live healthy and happy lives as the demand for meat continues growing.

Supermarkets are the biggest buyers and sellers of pork. They care about their customers and where they spend their money.

Increased pressure on supermarkets to improve pigs’ welfare and well-being will lead to more piglets suffering.