Sow Crate in the City

A sow crate will be set up in the city today to highlight the severe confinement pigs endure on factory farms in New Zealand.

Human volunteers will take turns at experiencing life as a sow in a 48 hour Freedom For Pigs vigil, beginning at 12 noon today at Civic Square at the end close to the city library. This follows the recently released draft code of welfare for pigs.

Green Party MP Sue Kedley and Actress Loren Taylor, Lily in comedy film Eagle Versus Shark, will show their support when they attend today at 1pm.

The vigil is a collaboration of several animal rights groups campaigning to stop factory farming. Groups include, Wellington Animal Rights Network (WARN), Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) and Campaign Against Factory Farming. (CAFF) and is one of a number of events around the country.

The groups are calling on the government for an immediate ban on sow stalls and farrowing crates saying they are cruel. They are also asking that people consider not eating pork products at all, to send a strong message to the pork industry that these cruel practices are totally unacceptable.

Spokesperson Debra Ashton says that while campaginers welcome the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's proposal to eventually phase out sow stalls, it can't come soon enough.

“There is no mention of banning farrowing crates which are just as cruel and this means that mothers will still be unable to look after their newborn piglets, the way they would in nature.” This is a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Ms Ashton says it is scientifically recognised that these intelligent animals suffer a number of health issues on intensive farms, including depression, psychcological distress, frustration as well as lung and heart disease, leg problems and lameness along with stereotypic behaviour such as bar biting.

The event will finish on Sunday April 11 at noon.

ENDS

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