Pigs are the third most commonly consumed animal in the United Kingdom. Pig farming is typically separated into grower pigs which are raised for their flesh and sow pigs which are repeatedly impregnated to birth grower pigs.
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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Thank you for taking the time to read this page. We believe the exploitation of animals is an important issue and wish to get this message out to as many people as possible.