Why You Should Care About Pigs
The life of a pig raised for their flesh
Discover the difference between the life of pigs farmed for their flesh versus pigs living free by using the slider on the image above.
Pigs are social, curious animals whose stubbornness is only rivaled by their intelligence. While pigs at the sanctuary have room to roam, proper housing, clean beds, and can express all of their natural behaviors, the same cannot be said for pigs on farms.
Despite ample evidence that pigs are smart, savvy beings, their lives on farms are full of immense suffering.
Mothers cannot mother
On most breeding operations, female pigs (sows) are housed in such intense confinement that they cannot even turn around. During their pregnancy, they live in gestation crates. After giving birth, they are moved to farrowing crates. Both prohibit the sow from turning around, and the farrowing crate has a small space for the piglets to nurse.
The 10-12 million sows exploited for breeding will spend 3-5 years in these crates. Because they are bred to produce large litters, their bodies become spent over the years.
At the sanctuary, pigs live 12-14 years. So a sow’s life is cut dramatically short at 3-5 years.
Confinement causes distress
All animals deprived of basic needs exhibit abnormal, destructive behavior called “stereotypic” behaviors. A stereotypic behavior is a repetitive, ritualistic action that serves no apparent function (aside from possibly self-soothing) or goal.
A sow confined in a crate cannot move or interact with other animals. This deprivation leads to increased stress and exhibition of abnormal behaviors.
It is common to see pigs in crate systems bash their heads against or bite cage bars, and bob their heads repeatedly.
While in these crates, the sows are kept constantly impregnated. They will only spend 2-3 weeks with their piglets. At a sanctuary or in the wild, piglets would remain with their moms for at least 2-4 months. If female, they will remain with their mom for life.
Sows are forced to sit, stand, and lie down in their own waste. This is not only contrary to their natural behavior of avoiding sleeping in their own feces and urine, it is a health problem. Sows confined in gestation and farrowing crates have higher rates of urinary tract infections.
Mutilated after birth
Soon after they are born, piglets undergo a set of painful mutilations without the benefit of sedation or pain relief.
Tails are cut off with scissors. Notches are punched or cut out of the piglet’s ear, for identification. Males are castrated, again, without pain relief. Specialized milk teeth are ripped out of a piglet’s mouth with pliers.
Stolen from families
After 2 weeks, piglets are forcibly weaned and removed from their mother. They are placed in group housing.
Without their mother to guide them, piglets struggle. Feed intake declines. Aggression increases dramatically. Piglets have a hard time moderating their aggression without the presence of stable, loving adults to guide them. Wounds and injuries are common during this stage.
Overcrowded conditions
Piglets are confined in concrete pens that offer less and less space as the pigs grow. The breeds used for meat production are selected for quick growth, which is harmful to their growing bones and bodies.
Pigs will remain in these concrete pens for approximately six months, until they reach around 250 lbs. By any meaningful standard, they are still babies.
In these concrete pens, pigs are deprived of enrichment. Aggression remains high as fighting is often the only outlet for their frustration. Pigs do not have straw to build nests in. They do not have dirt to root around. It is a barren environment.
Slatted floors allow for easy waste disposal, but can be uncomfortable on piglets’ hooves.
Most pigs prefer sleeping and eating away from their urine and feces. But on farms like these, they cannot avoid sleeping in their own waste matter.
After six months, pigs are forced into trailers and transported to their deaths.
Transport of terror
Pigs are forced into trucks that are often multi-leveled. Some are open-aired trucks where pigs are exposed to the elements. Pigs are transported in all weather conditions. This is particularly stressful in the summer. Pigs have a difficult time regulating their temperature and can overheat easily in warmer conditions.
Of all the farmed animal species, pigs are arguably the most difficult to load onto trucks. Thus, they typically face the roughest of handling. Electric prods and paddles are used to force the uncooperative animals into the slaughter trucks. Pigs are especially prone to stress and overheating, so the long and frightening rides to slaughter are brutal for them.
The Humane Slaughter Act mandates that mammals be stunned or shot with a captive bolt gun before having their throats slit. But fast-moving, assembly-line style kill floors allow a greater likelihood of human error. Improper stunning often leads to terrified pigs having their throats cut while fully conscious. USDA documentation shows countless examples of this occurring every year.
Just like the moment a pig enters the world, the moment a pig leaves the world is in fear, confusion, and often, pain. Nothing- from the very beginning, to the very end and all that falls between- is based in kindness, compassion or mercy.
Take Action
We firmly believe that when people know better, they ought to do better.
Animal Place encourages you to eliminate pig flesh products from your diet on behalf of the animals who suffer so greatly at the hands of the industry. With new vegan alternatives to sausages, hot dogs, pepperoni, bacon and more being released constantly, giving up pig products has never been easier.
Animal lovers, we ask you to challenge yourself to ditch products derived from pigs and all other animals. Give it a try; the animals will thank you!
