Imagine that you have just given birth. You have been locked inside a cage that restricts your movement. You cannot reach your arms out to hold your baby, you cannot offer care or comfort. The only contact is your nipples for feeding. This is how a farrowing crate restricts a sow and her piglets. Sows are held in a position where they cannot turn, or even clean their own babies, for weeks on end. Please sign this petition to demand that the UK bans this horrific farming method that turns mother pigs into miserable milk machines.
The farrowing crate violates a pig's freedom to express normal behaviour. This freedom is one of the "Five Freedoms", which are five identified basic rights used to guide UK animal welfare. Animal welfare experts also believe farrowing crates threaten two other Freedoms - freedom from discomfort and freedom from fear and distress. The argument that it stops the sow rolling on her piglets has been disproved, as it can actually lead to crushing.
Vegan animal rights organisation Viva has recently released a comprehensive report that backs up these concerns. Following a 12-month study of pig farming, the report highlights farrowing crates as a particularly cruel aspect of pig's living conditions. Other countries including Sweden and Switzerland have already banned the use of farrowing crates, and it's time for us to join them.
Please sign this petition demanding that we move forward and ban this inhumane practice. If enough people sign, it will send a clear message that the public believe farrowing crates have no place in a society that cares about animal welfare.
Defra:
I am writing today to urge you to ban farrowing crates.
Farrowing crates restrict or deny three of the Five Freedoms that all animals are supposed to be guaranteed.
Other European countries have banned the crates and found other ways for sows to properly care for their young.
[Your comments]
It's time to ban this inhumane practice once and for all.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
