new investigation exposes pig farming industry
In March 2013, Farmwatch investigated a pig farm in Christchurch. What they found were pigs in filthy, appalling conditions. Some sows (female pigs) were confined in farrowing crates and unable to turn around, while other pigs were confined to concrete pens covered in their own faeces. A full story on the investigation can be viewed on our website.
New Zealand Pork responded by releasing a public statement. As anticipated, their response said that “The standards on this farm are not typical of commercial pig farms in New Zealand”.
Farmwatch has found multiple instances of farms throughout New Zealand in a similar condition as this one, and despite NZ Pork’s assurance that this is an isolated incident, the evidence shows otherwise.
At the same time, SAFE made a complaint to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about the farm by SAFE using information supplied by Farmwatch. This prompted an MPI investigation.
In April this year (2014), Farmwatch visited the farm again and were met with the same, if not worse conditions than they had encountered in 2013. The evidence gathered by Farmwatch shows:
A blundering statement to TVNZ by Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries, said he was disappointed Farmwatch went to the media with the allegations. "I'm disappointed that this information hasn't gone to MPI straight away. As soon as I became aware of the property I said to MPI you need to go and inspect the property."
Farmwatch confirms and can prove that a complaint was made to MPI on 2 April 2013, and that an MPI commissioned investigation commenced the following day.
Farmwatch’s core purpose is to ethically show the public the truth of animal farming without any need for sensationalism. Farmwatch rejects any suggestion that the footage was staged or manipulated in any way. The cruelty we continually see behind the closed doors of the farming industry speaks for itself.
It is not Farmwatch's job to inspect farms, but there is a clear necessity for this information not provided by any other organisation. If Farmwatch doesn't expose the truth, noone will.
You can help us put an end to this cruelty by:
New Zealand Pork responded by releasing a public statement. As anticipated, their response said that “The standards on this farm are not typical of commercial pig farms in New Zealand”.
Farmwatch has found multiple instances of farms throughout New Zealand in a similar condition as this one, and despite NZ Pork’s assurance that this is an isolated incident, the evidence shows otherwise.
At the same time, SAFE made a complaint to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about the farm by SAFE using information supplied by Farmwatch. This prompted an MPI investigation.
In April this year (2014), Farmwatch visited the farm again and were met with the same, if not worse conditions than they had encountered in 2013. The evidence gathered by Farmwatch shows:
- rats had infested the farm and were seen running amongst the pigs
- sows in farrowing crates barely able to move
- weak, dying and dead newborn piglets were found in farrowing sheds
- several wheelie bins filled with the corpses of dead piglets
- young pigs covered in faeces in severely overcrowded conditions
- a dead pig left to rot in a fattening pen filled with faeces and water spraying from broken plumbing
A blundering statement to TVNZ by Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries, said he was disappointed Farmwatch went to the media with the allegations. "I'm disappointed that this information hasn't gone to MPI straight away. As soon as I became aware of the property I said to MPI you need to go and inspect the property."
Farmwatch confirms and can prove that a complaint was made to MPI on 2 April 2013, and that an MPI commissioned investigation commenced the following day.
Farmwatch’s core purpose is to ethically show the public the truth of animal farming without any need for sensationalism. Farmwatch rejects any suggestion that the footage was staged or manipulated in any way. The cruelty we continually see behind the closed doors of the farming industry speaks for itself.
It is not Farmwatch's job to inspect farms, but there is a clear necessity for this information not provided by any other organisation. If Farmwatch doesn't expose the truth, noone will.
You can help us put an end to this cruelty by:
- choosing compassion over cruelty by going vegan. Visit www.govegan.org.nz.
- Lobbying your local MP to make changes for the animals this election. Visit www.animalagenda.org.nz.