A cry for help from mother pigs
Pigs are intelligent, curious and empathetic animals. Given the choice, they would spend their days socializing with friends, rooting around for food and resting on comfortable bedding.
Sadly, pigs living on factory farms are not permitted to show off their intelligence or follow their instinctive curiosity. In factory farms across the world, pigs are confined to barren, small steel cages.
Mother pigs have it especially bad: inseminated in a cage no bigger than an average household refrigerator; with barely enough room to move, they are unable to even turn around.
Fortunately, thanks to people like you, things are set to change for mother pigs in Canada!
Canada can be a leader in pig welfare if we take a stand
In 2013, the voices of Canadian consumers moved the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) to commit to improve the welfare of pregnant pigs by raising them in group and pen housing by the end of 2022.
Since the RCC includes major grocery brands like Walmart Canada, this commitment will improve the lives of millions of factory farmed pigs.
As the 2022 deadline approaches, RCC members must have started on the path of making improvements for pigs in their supply chains. But we haven’t heard much, (Walmart Canada makes no mention of their commitment to mother pigs on their website).
And so, we’re asking Walmart Canada to publicly and proudly reaffirm their promise to mother pigs.
If we can convince a global leading brand like Walmart to publicly celebrate their commitment to pigs, it will pave the way for others to follow.
Will you join us and tell Walmart Canada to take a stand for pigs?
Mother pigs need mental stimulation, but on factory farms they are confined in barren environments. Unable to move or even turn around, they bite the bars of their steel cages out of boredom.
Factory farmed mother pigs receive limited food, so they are constantly hungry. As a result of chronic hunger, they resort to repetitively chewing, making them froth at the mouth.
Confined to a steel cage no bigger than a fridge, factory farmed mother pigs are unable to perform natural and instinctual behaviour such as rooting, exploring and socializing. This confinement and isolation causes awful psychological trauma.
A mother pig looks through the bars of her cage on a factory farm.
92% of Canadians believe it's important that pigs are reared in conditions with high welfare standards. Are you one of them?
Ask Walmart Canada to take a stand for pigs
Canadians expect their supermarkets to make sure farm animals are raised right. And supermarkets have a responsibility to inform their customers about how the animals in their supply chain are treated.
Sign our petition and help us convince Walmart to be a vocal and proud leader in raising pigs right.
A global problem
Three out of four mother pigs globally remain in cages for life. The terrible conditions imposed on pigs cause them physical and psychological suffering.
- They develop skin lesions, painful lameness, digestive problems and lung disease.
- They become noticeably depressed and agitated.
- Isolation and lack of stimulation makes their eyes sink into their heads.
- Chronic hunger causes mother pigs to chew with an empty mouth, continuing even as it’s frothing.
Factory farmed pigs have no joy in their lives. Only pain and suffering.
Our report, 'A Pig’s Tale: Exposing the facts of factory farming' provides a detailed research and examination of the lives of factory farmed pigs.
There is a better way
Mother pigs don’t belong alone in cages. They should be free to socialize with other pigs and have enrichments like straw to chew and play with.
If we raise pigs right by meeting their welfare needs, we will reduce stress, injury and disease. Pigs will be healthier and happier. They deserve a life beyond suffering.
A global movement to protect pigs
Around the world, we are calling on producers to adopt higher welfare for their pigs.
Thanks to our supporters raising their voice on behalf of pigs worldwide, pork producers are listening and making changes.
Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the US, has committed to phasing out cruel gestation crates in their supply chain by 2025. This decision comes following a World Animal Protection petition signed by more than 72,000 supporters in the US calling on them to do more to improve the lives of pigs. Read more about this good news.
CP Foods, a large food production and industrial agriculture company headquarted in Thailand, exports pork products to over 30 countries. It has promised to ensure all its pregnant breeding mother pigs will be housed in opens pens with other mother pigs, known as group gestation pens, by 2025 in Thailand, and by 2028 for international operations. Read the full story here.
Primo, a JBS-owned company and the largest producer of processed pork products in Australia, has recently agreed to improve its labeling on pork products. The labeling change will apply to much of Primo's bacon products, and will be done by January 2019. Learn more about pork labeling in Australia here.
In 2017, we helped create better lives for millions of pigs in China by signing a landmark statement of intent with Da Bei Nong, one of China’s leading agricultural producers, and the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW). Learn more about the agreement here.
In Brazil and Chile over 22,000 people have joined our campaign #ChangePigsLives, which was launched last year aimed at pushing governments to legislate for higher animal welfare standards for pig production.
Take action
Our offices around the world are building on this momentum and raising awareness among consumers. By adding your voice to our petition and our movement, we can move more producers to improve the lives of more pigs.
