Since a continuous supply of pigs is needed to stock the factory, producers must maintain large numbers of breeding sows to meet the demand. Hog farmers place a premium on crowding to get the most production out of the least possible space.
Pregnant sows are confined for most of their lives in narrow individual stalls. No exercise or nesting is possible even though the urge for such behavior is strong. Days before her piglets are born, the sow is moved to a farrowing stall. This is another type of steel cage that allows her only to stand or lie down and holds her in position to feed the baby pigs.
Millions of sows spend entire lifetimes in narrow steel crates parked like cars unable to turn or even lie down comfortably. (photo coutesey of Farm Sanctuary)
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The piglets are weaned at three weeks and put into "nurseries"—pens where they may be sorted according to size and sex to reduce fighting and aggressive competition for food and their tails are cut off. At about ten weeks of age they are removed to a "finishing" building to be fattened for market.
The mother is re-impregnated as soon as possible and sent back to the sow crate to begin the cycle all over again.
Sow crates have been banned in the U.K. and some other European nations on welfare grounds. In Canada, some producers have abandoned sow crates in favour of "group" or "loose" housing, where small groups of sows live together in large straw pens. |