Animal Welfare in British Farming
1.2 billion
Grower pigs
Breeding pigs
Birth
Natural life expectancy
Farming Practices
Farrowing Crates
Mother pigs are put into small individual cages for six weeks at a time while giving birth
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Piglet Thumping
Piglets deemed weak or unprofitable are inflicted with blunt force trauma until they are dead
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Early Death
Pigs die before making it to slaughter due to the low welfare conditions they are raised in
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Artificial Insemination
Mother pigs are forcibly impregnated with tubes containing semen that are pushed into the cervix
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Tail Mutilations
Piglets tails are removed to prevent injuries that arise due to the low welfare conditions they are raised in
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Tooth Mutilations
Pigs teeth are clipped or ground to prevent injuries that arise due to the low welfare conditions they are raised in
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Genital Mutilations
Male pigs are castrated to make the taste of their flesh more desirable
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Ear Mutilations
Piglets ears are tagged or tattooed as a method of identification
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Repeated Pregnancy Cycles
Mother pigs are repeatedly impregnated and killed once their piglet production declines
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Indoor Rearing
After weaning pigs spend their entire lives indoors to be fattened for slaughter
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Unsuitable Transport
Pigs are transported during hot temperatures that are known to cause distress and suffering
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Ineffective Stunning
Pigs stunned using electronarcosis regain consciousness after their first stunning
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Painful Deaths
Pigs are killed using high carbon dioxide concentrations that are known to cause pain, fear and distress
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Factory farmed chickens
Free range chickens
Organic chickens
Birth
Natural life expectancy
Farming Practices
Unsuitable Shed Density
Chickens are packed into sheds at a rate of up to 19 birds per square meter of space
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Indoor Rearing
Birds live their whole lives in sheds with no outdoor access or natural lighting
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Fast Growing Breeds
Chickens are selectively bred to grow at two to four times their natural rate leading to health issues
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Starvation
Fast growing birds that can't move perish because they are unable to access food and water
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Foot Rot
Birds feet and legs are burnt by faeces that build up on the uncleaned shed floors
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Heart and Circulation Failure
Pressure on birds bodies from fast growth leads to heart failure and death
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Unsuitable Flock Size
Birds cannot exhibit their natural "pecking order" behaviour because flock sizes are too large
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No Water Access
Semiaquatic ducks with no access to surface water are unable to express their natural behaviours
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Early Deaths
Birds die before being sent to slaughter because of the low welfare conditions they are raised in
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Non-stun Slaughter
Birds throats are cut without first being stunned in an electric water bath or gas chamber
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Unsuitable Transport
Chickens are transported during hot temperatures that are known to cause distress and suffering
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Females
Culled males
Veal males
Birth
Natural life expectancy
Farming Practices
Artificial Insemination
Cows are forcibly impregnated by a farmer or vet putting their hand into the anus and injecting sperm into the vagina
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Repeated Pregnancy Cycles
Cows are repeatedly impregnated until their milk production declines or they are too exhausted to continue
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Mother and Calf Separation
Calves are removed from their mothers a few hours after birth so that milk collection can start
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Male Calf Culling
Male calves that are deemed not useful to the dairy industry are killed and discarded
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Male Veal Calves
Male dairy calves raised for veal are prevented from exhibiting their natural behaviours
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Milk Replacer Fluid
Calves are fed milk replacer fluid instead of their mothers milk
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Isolation Pens
Naturally social calves are put into small individual pens for up to 8 weeks after birth
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Ear Mutilations
Cows ears are pierced or chunks are removed as a method of identification
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Skin Mutilations
Calves hair follicles are permanently damaged using irons cooled to well below zero as a method of identification
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Horn Mutilations
Calves heads are permanently damaged using a hot iron while under local anesthetic to prevent horns from forming
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Unnatural Milk Output
Cows selectively bred to produce seven times their natural milk output leading to a variety of health problems
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Mastitis
Cows udders become infected and painful due to the large quantities of milk they are producing
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Lameness
Cows become susceptible to leg and foot diseases because of inadequate housing and management practices
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Early Death
Cows die before making it to slaughter due to the toll on their bodies from increased milk production
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Free range laying hens
Caged laying hens
Male laying hens
Birth
Natural life expectancy
Farming Practices
Male Chick Culling
Male chicks are killed by gassing or blending because they are not useful to the industry
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Unnatural Egg Output
Hens egg yields are dangerously high due to years of selective breeding
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Unsuitable Shed Density
Free range hens are packed into sheds at a rate of up to 13 birds per square meter of space
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Beak Mutilations
Hens have a portion of their beaks forcibly removed to prevent them pecking each other in confined conditions
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Bone Fractures
Hens bones deteriorate due to the increased rate of egg production leaching calcium from their bodies
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Feather Loss
Hens lose their feathers due to being pecked, stress, parasites and disease
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Unsuitable Flock Size
Hens cannot exhibit their natural "pecking order" behaviour because flock sizes are too large
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Confined Cages
Hens spend their entire lives in small cages with minimal movement and stimulation
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Poor Outdoor Access
Free range hens outdoor access is limited or poor quality
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Vent Prolapses
Hens inner tissues protrude outside of their body due to excessive and large egg production
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Early Deaths
Hens die before their allocated 72 weeks of egg production is up
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Foot Rot
Hens feet are burnt by faeces that build up on uncleaned floors and surfaces
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Unsuitable Transport
Hens are transported during hot temperatures that are known to cause distress and suffering
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Non-stun Slaughter
Hens throats are cut without first being stunned in an electric water bath or gas chamber
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Cows
Birth
Natural life expectancy
Farming Practices
Horn Mutilations
Calves heads are permanently damaged using a hot iron to prevent horns from forming
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Skin Mutilations
Calves hair follicles are permanently damaged using irons cooled to well below zero as a method of identification
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Ear Mutilations
Calves ears are pierced or chunks are removed as a method of identification
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Genital Mutilations
Calves genitals are severed to make their flesh tenderer and to simplify management
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Feedlots
Cows and bulls are kept in barren pens where they are fattened in the months and weeks leading up to being killed
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