National Stands To Lose Critical Votes If Animal Welfare Is Ignored.

SAFE has presented Prime Minister John key with a 40,000 signature-strong petition calling for a farrowing crate ban.

“Farrowing crates have been found to fail to meet the obligations of the Animal Welfare Act, as the sows cannot express normal behaviours – even those so basic as turning around,” says head of campaigns Mandy Carter. “We call on the Government to commit to end intensive pig farming, starting with immediately setting a phase-out date for farrowing crates.”

The pig industry still relies on factory farming systems such as farrowing crates, and in July this year the industry was yet again rocked by scandal with two exposés that showed cruelty, neglect and physical abuse of pigs.

A Horizon poll taken in August showed that 64.7 percent of respondents would be more likely to vote for a party that has a policy to end factory farming. 76.7 per cent want farrowing crates banned.

“It’s clear that every single vote counts. With the election too close to call, National really needs to start taking factory farming cruelty more seriously, or it could cost them the election,” says Ms Carter.

“The public is saying enough is enough. They want intensive pig farming banned outright, and it can begin right now with a ban on farrowing crates.

ends

© Scoop Media