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Pig in a sow crate - Source: ONE News -
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Farmers could be allowed to keep pigs in cages for at least another seven years.
An investigation by TVNZ's Sunday programme has revealed that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) recommended the cages should be banned by 2017.
However, the draft version of the report was held back after pig farmers threatened legal action.
Even the 2017 date for banning cages was too soon for pig farmers and last December they threatened legal action if NAWAC published it, and the committee backed down.
Pork Industry board chairman Chris Trengrove says farmers objected to the report's publication because NAWAC had not properly consulted them first.
Animal rights group SAFE says the secrecy is unjustified.
"Why keep a draft code out of the public domain? Isn't it for the public to decide on it and to talk about?" says SAFE director Hans Kriek.
At the moment, sows can be crammed into the stalls for the full length of each 16 week pregnancy. The draft document proposed cutting that back to four weeks by December 2012, with the total ban on crates in seven years.
"They have made no mention about banning farrowing crates so that means pigs will be confined to crates for at least four weeks each pregnancy," says Kriek.
Following the complaints from farmers, the newly amended document will offer a range of deadlines for discussion.
Watch Sunday's original investigation into pig farming.
What do you think about farmers keeping pigs in cages? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentChrisNoaro said on 2010-07-24 @ 20:18 NZDT: Report abusive post
People need to realise that pigs will continue to be abused like this until we stop eating them. Farming and the meat indutry need to keep costs down to stay competitive so the interests of animals will always be low on the list. Also on the subject of free range - KILLING SOMETHING ISN'T TREATING IT NICELY.
trudiu said on 2010-07-24 @ 18:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
Well done again to Close up, and SAFE. Great to see this back in the spotlight. The biggest thing people can do to help these pigs is go vegan.
Freeranger said on 2010-07-24 @ 13:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
only to be replaced on the supermarket shelves by substandard imports
Freeranger said on 2010-07-24 @ 13:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hi,whilst I do not approve of the cruelty, I have a problem with Safe condemning all farmers.In fact it is the outdoor piggeries that are feeling it the hardest when demand goes down. Most outdoor pork producers have higher costs and getter mortality but get the same price as indoor guys which is set by what processors can import from overseas, which is garanteed to be from stalls. So lets support kiwi farmers try to improve instead of running the outdoor piggeries out of business.
whiteheron said on 2010-07-24 @ 12:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
Come on!! This is supposed to be NZ and this is not the NZ way of farming disgusting we should boycott all commercial pork products for 6 months and go back to buying from the local butcher who buys from local farms that have a good working ethic. Lets face it there are good healthy pig farms out there and scenes like this destroy their reputation as well.