OUR VIEW: Disgraceful treatment of pigs must end

21st May 2009

There will be few people across Rotorua who have not caught up with the furore surrounding the country's pig farming industry this week

Television New Zealand's Sunday programme carried a shocking report at the weekend in which members of animal welfare organisation Open Rescue, accompanied by former pork ambassador and comedian Mike King, broke into a Levin pig farm and exposed what they claimed were inhumane practices.

Watching the item, it was hard to believe that pigs endured such conditions in this country.

The camera footage showed pigs stuck in cramped stalls barely able to move and chewing at the bars that kept them caged. King said the animals were obviously distressed - and depressed - and that he was ashamed to have been fronting pork adverts on television.

Looking at the images, it was hard not to think of battery hen farming.

Fast forward four days and the row has far from died down.

Organisations such as Save Animals From Exploitation have continued their public attacks. The Green Party has joined in.

 Television New Zealand, including its flagship Close Up programme, has been hammering the story.

Even Prime Minister John Key has waded in, saying he found the footage "very, very disturbing".

The pig farming industry's image has been tarnished.

Some pig farmers across the country have refused to allow cameras into their operations, citing a host of reasons.

Such secrecy only adds fuel to the fire and makes them look as if they have something to hide.

The New Zealand Pork Industry claims that most pig farms do not cram their animals into tight stalls never to see the light of day.

It maintains it is phasing out the use of sow stalls and the programme does not represent the industry as a whole.

The pig farmer at the centre of the Sunday show is former pork industry board chairman Colin Kay.

Authorities say it is likely they will find his farming operation complies with the animal welfare code.

Mr Kay claims Open Rescue and King provoked his pigs when they broke in.

The bottom line on all this is any intensive pig farming such as cramming pigs into tight stalls so they can hardly move round the clock is unacceptable and inhumane. How can any human put animals through such suffering?

And if it is within the animal welfare code then that code needs to be changed.

Agriculture Minister David Carter has asked that a review of the welfare code for pigs be given top priority by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.

The government should sort out this rubbish quickly.

If the prime minister is so disturbed by it, surely he has the power to change things, or bring a huge amount of pressure down on others to change things?

One would have also thought the pork board would move quickly to tighten the rules and put an immediate stop to any disgusting farming practices - for the sake of its own industry.

Perception will play an important role in this. Ultimately, the court of public opinion and consumers will pass final judgment.