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Source: Clsoe Up -
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A farmer is once again fighting claims of mistreating his pigs as more covert filming by activists reignites the debate.
The farmer at the centre of outcry about pig farming, Colin Kay, said his animals are not mistreated and he is not breaking any laws.
Kay said the video footage shown of his farm was of a small number of animals who were being treated.
"We're talking about a very small number of animals, three animals out of 1500," he said.
It follows the release of more covert video footage of Kay's Levin piggery, the same farm that was filmed by animal activists last year.
Hans Kriek from Save Animals from Exploitation (SAFE) said conditions on Kay's farm are not rare.
"Colin Kay is not the only farm that keeps pigs in these conditions, many farmers do the same, they suffer the same," he said.
Kay's farm has been cleared of any wrongdoing by government inspectors and Pork Board bosses have promised to audit all piggeries by September.
The government has heard the calls to change the nature of the industry.
The publicity has been heard loud and clear at the Beehive and the government plans to ban the use of sow crates by the end of 2017.
But Kriek said the wait until 2017 for the ban is too long.
"We should not leave animals suffering in these crates for that long," he said.
Kay said he hopes to move to a bigger and better farm, but insists his current piggery is legal and safe.
