Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
October 17, 2003
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Number #32 Volume 2
CONTENTS
1. 10,000 Pigs Found Dead & Dying
2. Farmers Cheer as Cow Shot Dead
3. The Dairy Industry's "Disgraceful Secret"
4. Stressed-out Pigs
5. Video Encyclopedia of Farm Animal Behavior
6. The Emotional World of Farm Animals
7. The Secret Life of Cows
8. Farmed Animal Friends
9. Upcoming Events: Liberation Now!; From the Farm Gate to the Dinner Plate
1. 10,000 PIGS FOUND DEAD & DYING
Some 10,000 dead and dying pigs have been found by Ontario SPCA officers at 6
locations associated with Wood Lynn Farms Ltd. across Southwestern Ontario.
Among the officers findings were: almost 2000 dead piglets in manure tanks,
newborn piglets trampled by adult pigs, piglets eaten by "thousands if
not tens of thousands of rats," piles of dead pigs, decomposing pigs, and
a pig being beaten to death by a contractor with a metal pipe. At every
location, the pigs had inadequate food, water and bedding, with many areas
filthy and wet. All of the pigs were in a distressed state, and extensive
cannibalism was observed. Many of the surviving pigs were euthanized due to
their poor health. The others were sent to slaughter. The investigation began
in April, following a complaint by a member of the public. Seventy-seven
charges have been brought against 7 men, including causing unnecessary pain,
causing unnecessary suffering, willful neglect and abandoning an animal in
distress. Wood Lynn Farms was not charged since it went bankrupt during the
investigation, but 4 senior officials and 3 contractors have been charged. In
the late 1990's, the company, which developed the "Baconmaker" breed
of pigs, was Canada's largest exporter of pigs for breeding.
In Ottawa, 2 brothers face a dozen animal cruelty charges at a November 25th
trial. An agent with the Humane Society of Ottawa County found
"ghoulish" conditions at their farm where some 200 pigs were
"living in a light brown slush comprised of rainwater, urine, feces and
the residue of dead pigs." A steer was found in a pen lined with feces 2
feet deep. The brothers have until November 12th to sell the remaining 120
pigs who are living in a dilapidated barn.
"Pigs Found Dead, Dying," London Free Press, Kelly Pedro, October
15, 2003.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2003/10/15/226053.html
"Charges Laid as Officers Find Thousands of Decaying Pigs," National
Post, James Cowan, Oct. 15, 2003.
http://tinyurl.com/r3o2
or
http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id=C648AE58-FD8F-48E2-9A5A-0B9D769F00C1
"Hundreds of Dead Pigs Found on Ontario Farm," Canadian Press, Oct.
14 2003.
http://tinyurl.com/r3p1 or
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1066159771810_61568971/?hub=Canada
"Animal Cruelty Trial Set for November," The News-Messenger, Rick
Neale, October 14, 2003.
http://www.thenews-messenger.com/news/stories/20031014/localnews/452936.html
2. FARMERS CHEER AS COW SHOT DEAD
In Quebec, reporters were invited to witness the killing of 2 cows in protest
of the lack of compensation farmers and ranchers are receiving for "mad
cow" disease (see item #4 of:
http://tinyurl.com/oc11
). Farmers cheered and gave a victory salute as the first cow crumpled to the
ground from a shot to the forehead. Afterward, she was put into a front-end
loader and dumped into a pit. The incident was repeatedly broadcasted. (A
video of the shooting became inaccessible shortly after it was made available
on a news website:
http://tinyurl.com/r4g4
) Some farmers threatened to kill more cows that way rather than sell them at
cut-rate prices. They are calling for $30 million compensation in addition to
the $58 million the province has already provided. The SPCA decried the
shootings as barbaric. Quebec has no law against shooting farmed animals but
the SPCA is looking into whether the shootings are in violation of the
Criminal Code. The following day, Alberta, which has about half of Canada's 13
million cattle, agreed to give its industry another $100 million compensation,
adding to the $300 million the province has already committed for feedlot
owners. Premier Ralph Klein warned there is no more money, commenting:
"We've already spent hundreds of millions on this issue - this one
ridiculous, stupid mad cow."
3. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY'S "DISGRACEFUL SECRET"
An October 10th op-ed in The Ottawa Citizen tells that surveys conducted by
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) found 7,382 nonambulatory animals
arrived at federal slaughterplants and auction markets across Canada in 2001
(see:
http://tinyurl.com/r4eg ). Most of
these animals were cows from dairies who had become debilitated prior to being
sent. According to the authors, a director of The Winnipeg Humane Society and
the farmed animal advisor to the Animal Alliance of Canada (AAC), the surveys
only covered a few sites and therefore revealed only a small extent of the
problem. Documents obtained by AAC show that animals with serious injuries and
diseases are transported in violation of the law and industry guidelines.
Examples include a cow with a broken back whom a veterinarian granted the
farmer 48 hours to move; a cow with externally prolapsed reproductive organs
and possible internal hemorrhaging from just having given birth was deemed by
a vet to be fit for transport, as was a cow with a swollen leg and possible
fracture that appeared "very painful." No painkillers or other
medications were administered to the cows. A CFIA survey found that nearly 40%
of nonambulatory cows, and 60% of nonambulatory pigs were condemned, calling
into question the economic sense of sending such animals to slaughter. The
op-ed notes that Manitoba does not allow the transport of nonambulatory
animals under any circumstances. Contending that production practices need to
change, the authors call upon the dairy industry to explain why so many cows
cannot walk.
In the U.S., 1 in 5 of the 9 million cows used by the dairy industry is
suffering leg or foot pain. Lameness is the 3rd biggest health problem,
following bacteria and reproductive ailments. The condition can be caused by
rough flooring, damp conditions, diet and genetics. It sometimes causes open
sores, and costs the industry an estimated $570 million in lost productivity
and medical expenses. Larger herds have resulted in less attention to
individual animals, and workers, often migrants, tend to be untrained or
unable to communicate the problem. A Wisconsin company plans to soon start
selling a device, the Reaction Force Detection System, designed to catch
lameness early on.
A June conference sponsored by DeLaval, a Swiss dairy company, and the U.N.'s
Food and Agriculture Organization brought together 250 members of the world
dairy industry from 35 countries. Animal welfare concerns were included among
the leading challenges the global industry faces. Noting that these concerns
will continue to grow, a DeLaval representative said, "The more we accept
the ‘Disneyfication' of all animals – giving cartoon animals human-like
qualities, the harder it will be to educate consumers on the true facets of
production agriculture." All members of the food chain were urged to
unite and stand up for modern, high-tech agriculture.
"The Disgraceful Secret Down on the Farm," The Ottawa Citizen, John
Youngman and Stephanie Brown, October 10, 2003.
http://131.104.232.9/fsnet/2003/10-2003/fsnet_oct_10.htm#story9
"Lame Cows Detected Early," The Baltimore Sun, Meredith Cohn,
October 2, 2003.
http://www.sunspot.net/business/bal-bz.lame02oct02,0,5245134.story?coll=bal-business-headlines
"Conference In Sweden Promotes Communication Among All Segments
Worldwide," Dairy Herd Management, Shirley Roenfeldt, October 1, 2003.
http://www.vancepublishing.com/fsi/articles/0310/0310inaction.htm
4. STRESSED-OUT PIGS
Half a century of selective breeding for lean muscle mass has also led to a
condition in pigs known as porcine stress syndrome (PSS). It causes pigs to be
very nervous and excitable, making them difficult to handle. Psychological and
physical stress can cause these pigs to suffer a hypermetabolic state which
can result in overheating and potential heart failure. Such an attack can
resolve itself if the pig is allowed to rest, but if the pig is slaughtered
while in that state their flesh "turns into sweating pale cuts of meat
that ooze liquid in the packaging and become leathery when cooked." [This
is known as pale, soft exudative (PSE) meat.] This is the case with some
10-15% of pig meat, and the industry estimates that PSS costs $90 million a
year in lost revenue. Despite efforts to breed the syndrome out of pigs the
incidence of PSS meat has remained nearly the same. Although PSS is correlated
with the mutation of a gene involved in muscle contraction, pigs who test
negative for the mutation still produce PSE meat. Researchers are looking for
other genetic clues. In August, the National Pork Board initiated a voluntary
program for the evaluation and improved welfare of the 97 million pigs
slaughtered in the U.S. each year (see item #4:
http://tinyurl.com/o35j
).
Under natural conditions, a sow would wean her piglets when they are 10-12
weeks of age. The pig industry has been removing piglets from their mothers at
increasingly early ages. In commercial conditions, they are now weaned at
about 16-18 days of age. At the University of Michigan, Dr. Aldroaldo Zanella
is studying the development of social memory in piglets, "the ability to
distinguish between friends and strangers." He has observed that piglets
weaned at an earlier age fight for much longer periods of time than do
later-weaned pigs. Using swimming experiments, he found indications that
weaning at an early age may alter piglets' brains in a manner that negatively
affects their behavior when they are stressed. He wonders if the effects are
long-lived, and wants to learn if early-weaned pigs have trouble learning
under stress later in life. Pigs are very social and dislike being isolated.
Zanella hopes his research will help resolve aggression problems which can
occur in group housing systems so they can replace gestation stalls for pigs
(see:
http://tinyurl.com/r6fm ). The
article discusses various approaches other animal scientists are taking to the
housing issue. Notes animal welfare professor David Fraser (U. of B.C.),
"I think the wise strategy of the industry is to solve the welfare
problems of the group systems rather than try to continue justifying the stall
systems." (See:
http://tinyurl.com/r6ff
)
5. VIDEO ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FARM ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
The USDA's Agricultural Research Service is creating the "Encyclopedia of
Farm Animal Behavior." The project, intended for research and teaching,
will provide a standard for what farmed animal actions constitute a certain
behavior. Drawing from definitions in the "Dictionary of Farm Animal
Behavior," a review panel will use video footage from Purdue University
and other images to come up with a video clip depicting behavior fitting each
definition. Visitors to the site can also submitted comments on whether the
behaviors accurately match the definitions. The comments will be used by a
review panel to evaluate images on at least a yearly basis. Cattle and pig
behavior are initially being addressed. (Definitions for other species'
behavior are also available on the site.) The images are freely available for
public use. The encyclopedia and information about it can be accessed at:
http://www.liru.asft.ttu.edu/EFAB/default.asp
6. THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF FARM ANIMALS
Author of the New York Times bestseller "When Elephants Weep," and
"Dogs Never Lie About Love," which explore the emotionality of wild
and domestic animals, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson has turned his attention to
farmed animals. This was brought about when a woman told him of the severe
anxiety and stress suffered by her companion pig who was rescued from
slaughter. Masson undertook the joint venture of a book and companion film
documentary. The film, "The Emotional World of Farm Animals,"
intersperses scenes of animals in the wild and in sanctuaries with footage of
farmed animals in intensive production systems. Intended for a general
audience, Animal Place cofounder Kim Sturla, the film's executive producer,
explains "We want to expose people to these animals as individuals. For
most of the general public, the notion that farmed animals are actually
thinking, feeling beings is a radical concept." Animal Place is featured
in the film, along with Farm Sanctuary, United Poultry Concerns, and
Wilderness Ranch.
"The Pig Who Sang to the Moon," is the title of the book. Random
House, which has scheduled a November 4th release date, writes: "Weaving
history, literature, science, and his own vivid experiences observing pigs,
cows, sheep, goats, and chickens, Masson bears witness to the emotions and
intelligence of these remarkable animals, each unique with distinct qualitites."
The 1st chapter is on-line at:
http://tinyurl.com/r9u8
Screenings of the film and book signing with Masson and Sturla will be held in
California in November. See (PDF file):
http://www.animalplace.org/ap_news_fall_2003.pdf
7. THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS
Cows can love, bond and form strong lifelong friendships. They can sulk, play
games, hold grudges, and be vain. Rosamund Young has made these observations
at Kite's Nest Farm, an organic dairy farm in Worcestershire, England. In her
book "The Secret Life of Cows," Young explains the unique and
complex relationships between mother and daughter cows. "Although we were
pleased to be trusted by most of our cows, we admired the few who were
independent from us," she writes. Young considers the life of cows to be
secret in that intensive dairying has rendered their natural behavior
unprofitable, unimportant and out of place. She argues that compassion in
farming makes sound economic sense as well as ethical sense:
http://www.animalsentience.com/features/secret_life_of_cows.htm
8. FARMED ANIMAL FRIENDS
Having closely associated with cows for the past quarter century, Helga
Tacreiter "has become something of a Margaret Meade of the bovine
world" states an October 12th article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
"Farm Offers a Little Slice of Bovine Heaven" profiles Tacreiter,
telling how she came to found Cow Sanctuary, where she and her companion cow
herd now reside along with 5 horses, 4 emus, 2 goats, 3 geese, 3 chickens and
6 cats in Cumberland County, Pa.:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6990575.htm
While it hasn't any cows, Bleating Hearts Animal Sanctuary is home to 70-80
sheep, goats, llamas, turkeys, chickens and rabbits, all of whom were once
abandoned or facing slaughter. The small farm in the Colorado foothills of
Coal Creek Canyon is also home to David Welch and Lynn Halpern, an aerospace
engineer and a physicist. When Halpern learned that female goats must be
continually impregnated and male are sent to slaughter, she dropped her plans
for a goat dairy. After visiting Farm Sanctuary she became a vegetarian and
began adopting farmed animals, ultimately founding Bleating Hearts with Welch,
her husband. "Bleating Hearts' to Rescue," an October 13th article
in the Rocky Mountain News, details this and discusses some of the sanctuary's
farmed animal residents and how they came to live there:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/pets/article/0,1299,DRMN_64_2338595,00.html
(A recent photo of Halpern protesting the AVMA's continued support of forced
molting can be seen at:
http://www.upc-online.org/fall2003/help.htm
)
9. UPCOMING EVENTS
LIBERATION NOW!
Liberation Now!, the 3rd annual National Student Animal Rights Conference,
will be held November 7th-9th in Washington, D.C. The conference is
specifically designed for youth, with a program that emphasizes hand-on
interactive workshops on campaigns and organizing skills. The stated goal of
the conference is to help inform and empower participants to take action in
defense of animals. "GET ON THE HILL" is an event immediately
following the conference. Participants will learn the basics of lobbying
followed with a November 10th student lobby day on Capitol Hill. Registration
for the conference is $20 through October 23rd, $25 thereafter. Organized by
the Student Animal Rights Alliance, the conference is co-sponsored by Veg News
and various animal protection organizations. For more information see:
http://www.defendanimals.org/main/index.htm
FROM THE FARM GATE TO THE DINNER PLATE is the title of a conference to be held
November 2nd-4th in Edmonton, Alberta. Hosted by the Agricultural Institute of
Canada Foundation, the conference will examine agricultural technologies,
products and practices regarding food safety. Agricultural policy and
legislation will also be considered. The event is co-sponsored by various
provincial agencies, the Canadian Pork Council and other agribusiness
entities. For more information, see:
http://www.aic.ca/aicf/conference/
