How would you feel?

The sow you see pictured is confined in this barred narrow crate for life, only able to take one step forward and one back. Sometimes she's tethered as well*. Her body is broken down by continuous pregnancies, but her babies may die because she cannot turn far enough to reach them. This intelligent and sensitive animal endures a life of unending pain and frustration. She never leaves the shed, never sees the sun or a blade of grass and the terrible boredom and monotony of her existence drives her insane.

* NOTE: The practice of tethering is now banned is NSW thanks to the efforts of Animal Liberation. NSW is the only Australian state which has a ban.

A pig's nature has been misrepresented The pig has been labelled as a dirty smelly, stupid garbage eater. Not true.

FACT: Pigs are clean
They do not "sweat like pigs". Unable to perspire, they wallow in mud to keep cool and are excellent swimmers. Unable to reach all parts of their body, they need to scratch against low branches or lie in wet places to relieve itches. They do NOT overeat, even with unlimited food available.

FACT: Pigs are intelligent
They have a highly developed vocabulary of sounds and are arguably more intelligent than dogs.

FACT: Pigs are sociable
They form close family and social networks. Pregnant sows undergo a period of intense nest-making activity for about 24 hours before giving birth ("farrowing") in privacy.

All these are denied to them in the intensive "farming" system.

"No animal can live without information and exploration. It is as vital as eating and mating, and just as persistent."

Dr G Van Patten, Institute Of Animal Husbandry, The Netherlands

Intensive farming affects your health

Pigs are fed a diet of pellets containing antibiotics and growth promotants, yet no studies have been undertaken to discover the long-term effects on humans consuming the meat.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 1986 recommended a ban on the widely used pig growth promotant "Carbadox" because of a potential danger to people who consume food containing toxic residues. In the mid 1980s the was a ban on the antibiotic "Chlorampherical" now known to cause bone-marrow damage in people. In January 1991 the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service stated antibiotic residues had been found in meat destined for export.

Damages the environment

Pig slurry (waste) is recognised as a serious environmental hazard. Run-off affects the water in streams, ground waters and catchment areas. It causes acute air, water and ground pollution and creates enormous disposal problems. It has a very high ammonia emission and minimal fertiliser value.

Poor economics

It takes 8 kilograms of edible plant protein to produce 1 kilogram of edible pig protein. Protein from animals is an acutely wasteful way of feeding humans.

Alternatives

There are already viable alternatives.

• Outdoor (free-range) farming, using electronic ID to monitor food intake, a proven success in Holland.

• Vegetarianism. * Better for you, * Better for the pig, * Better for the environment.

What can you do?

• Never buy Factory Famed pork (85% of pigs in Australia are intensively farmed). Your money is all it takes to keep the system going.

• Look for alternatives. Try the wide range of healthy vegetarian foods.

• Write to NSW Farmers, with copies to Minister for Agriculture and your Local Member. Demand that intensive farming of animals be phased out and that, meantime, factory-farmed pork be labelled "intensive" as an information service to customers.

• Join Animal Liberation and help us change the laws that permit Factory Farming.

This is the life of the sow. All the sows shown here are tethered. They have a hard metal collar round their neck which is attached to the cage in front of them, totally constricting their movement.
GOOD NEWS: Tethering is now banned in NSW, thanks to action by Animal Liberation.
(Photo taken at Parkville Piggery in 1995 by Animal Liberation).