The UK animal rights group the Animal Justice Project (AJP) has released undercover footage of a boar farm in Norfolk, UK, linked to pig farms that supply pig’s flesh to UK supermarkets. It is the first known investigation at a UK boar farm specialised in supplying semen to other pig farms as part of the genetic manipulation that, through selective breeding, is common on animal farms. These “stud” male pigs endure prolonged suffering in concrete pens for years, never being allowed outdoors, and they are forced onto “boar mount stools’” where semen collection operatives manually stimulate the animals to collect semen for distribution in the UK pig industry.
The farm investigated, Innovis, is a Red Tractor-approved supplier to Hermitage AI, a leader in the UK pig industry, which operated with up to 130 boars for 15 years.
According to AJP, over 781 hours of secret filming showed the boars enduring relentless mistreatment, including being kicked and beaten when they resisted the mounting stools used for semen collection.
An activist who worked undercover at the facility described harrowing conditions including, boars confined to barren concrete pens, smaller than recommended by government codes, with little access to natural light or darkness for rest; severe injuries and lameness left untreated, including one boar forced to walk on its elbows; and boars were struck more than 300 times, out of worker frustration.
After the Independent newspaper showed the footage to Red Tractor, the UK’s largest food and farm standards scheme, the organisation suspended the farm’s certification, and farm owner Innovis suspended two employees.
Dr Alice Brough, a pig veterinarian, said the following after seeing the footage: “The animal handling and care shown on this unit is truly shocking. Pigs are verbally and physically abused, appear to be neglected, and dosed with off-label drugs to the point of severe side effects and possibly even death. The force used in handling these animals, who show no aggression towards workers, is beyond excessive, and employs the use of inappropriate tools as weapons to inflict pain and fear.”
Ayesha Smart, Specialist Barrister in Animal Welfare Law, said, “Innovis and their workers must comply with section 4 and section 9 Animal Welfare Act 2006. There are copious failings of those duties across the undercover footage where these safeguards are violated, and workers intentionally cause the boars pain and suffering. It is wholly unacceptable to hit, strike or kick pigs, whether using a body part or an implement. There are clear breaches of these requirements given the unsanitary and slippery walkways coated with urine and faeces. There is a lack of suitable bedding or enrichment in some of the pens leaving animals to resort to pacing, playing with the concrete floor or fighting.”
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