Category: Farm Animals

Farm Animals, General News

And On The Theme of Animals Rescuing Others – Pigs Return Stranded Fish To The Water.

When this family of pigs noticed a fish stranded on the shoreline, they sprung into action and worked together to return the animal back to the water.

Although it seems surprising that the pigs somehow knew exactly what to do to help the fish, it probably comes as no shock to the animals’ biggest fans. Pigs are highly intelligent and social beings and have reportedly saved countless humans and other animals from danger, including fires, drowning, and intruders. They’re also known for their compassion – when a pig notices another creature suffering, it tends to start exhibiting signs of distress. It’s no wonder, then, that they’re also quick to step in and help any way they can!

This video is just one example of these amazing animals engaging in a heroic act.

Farm Animals

Mozzarella di Bufala: italy’s blood cheese!

 

italien

Dirty stables, injured buffaloes and dead calves: The pictures, which were taken in August 2018 on twelve buffalo farms in Campania, southern Italy, reveal the naked truth behind the popular luxury product buffalo mozzarella. The research by FOUR PAWS, journalists and the Wildlight team shows that male buffalo calves are particularly affected. Considered as a worthless byproduct, juveniles are often deliberately neglected. If they do not die as a result of the poor husbandry conditions, they are slaughtered on average 30 days after birth. FOUR PAWS urges supermarket chains, dealers and producers to take responsibility.

Büffel 1_o

“The pictures show calves, who apparently have been lying dead on the ground for a long time – and in front of the other buffaloes. Other live calves were so emaciated they could barely stand. Without contact with other animals and reasonable care, the calves are kept in much too small, cage-like enclosures, “reports FOUR PAWS livestock expert Hanna Zedlacher. “Around 30 days after birth, the calves are old enough to be transported to the butcher. In 2017 alone, over 52,000 buffalo calves were legally killed in Italy. The meat is usually processed into dog food, “says Zedlacher.

Büffel 4_o

The FOUR PAWS investigation material shows that adult female buffaloes also suffer from miserable housing conditions. Intensive livestock farming means little or no runoff for the animals. Ponds or pits that serve to cool down are rarely available. The stables and the animals are filthy. Many of the buffalo suffer from overgrown hooves, tumors and untreated injuries.

Büffel 3o

Buffalo farms have been in focus since 2014

Already in the summer of 2014, FOUR PAWS drew attention to the bad situation of Italian buffaloes. Four years later, however, the demands made at that time are still not fulfilled everywhere – FOUR PAWS sees the responsibility of the producers, but also of the supermarkets and traders. It is important to ensure the standards.

“Only buffalo mozzarella from pet-friendly farms should be offered. We demand regular checks, appropriate posture and medical care. We also expect humane solutions for male calves. The unnecessary killing of the animals must come to an end, ” Zedlacher demands and adds: ” We recommend consumers to inform themselves about the origin of the buffalo mozzarella and to refrain from buying in case of doubt. ”

Büffel 5_o

Business with buffalo milk

74% of the approximately 400,000 buffalos living in Italy are bred in Campania. There are 2,212 buffalo farms nationwide. The vast majority – 77 percent – are pure milk producers, 14 percent are pure meat producers and only 9 percent use the animals for both milk and meat production. Buffalo mozarella from Campania carries the DOP seal (Denominazione di Origine Protetta, Protected Designation of Origin) and is the export hit of Central and Southern Italy.

47 million kilos, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP ‘- buffalo mozzarella in short – were produced in 2017 in Italy. To meet the high demand for luxury cheese, many Italian farmers are focusing on efficiency rather than animal welfare.

The main customers of the luxury cheese are France, Germany, Great Britain, USA, Switzerland and Spain.

https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20181031_OTS0021/bueffelmozzarella-vier-pfoten-deckt-erneut-missstaende-in-italiens-farmen-auf-bild

My comment: “It is important to ensure the standards” says FOUR PAWS”!

By whom should the standards be respected?
From the milk mafia?
From the farma owner for bufallos?
Or from a corrupt system that closes its eyes and defends the agrarian mafia when it comes to animal welfare?
That’s how the system works, and every system in the world.
Not with standards.
But with fascist rules, that will be followed by state lackeys and indifferent consumers.

My best regards, Venus

 

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News

UK: A third of Britons have stopped or reduced eating meat in the last five years, new survey reveals. ‘Animal Welfare Concerns’ Cited As The Main Reason.

UNKG0001

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/world-vegan-day-vegetarian-diet-plant-based-meat-health-waitrose-survey-a8611981.html

A third of Britons have stopped or reduced eating meat in the last five years, a new survey has found.

The research, conducted by Waitrose, reveals a huge shift in the UK’s eating habits and also revealed that one in eight people now follow either a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Released on World Vegan Day, the supermarket’s report comes just one day after the former editor of Waitrose Food magazine, William Sitwell, resigned after he joked about publishing a series of articles on “killing vegans”.

The annual food and drink survey is based on OnePoll consumer research of 2,000 people across Britain, not just those who shop in Waitrose, and is supported by data from focus groups and purchases made in Waitrose shops and online.

In addition to the increasing prevalence of vegan and vegetarianism, the report also reveals a surge in flexitarianism, also known as semi-vegetarianism, whereby someone eats meat or fish only occasionally; according to the findings, 21 per cent of Brits now follow this diet.

“Being mindful of how we live and eat has become a priority in today’s world,” comments Rob Collins, managing director at Waitrose.

“As we become increasingly mindful of our own health, the wellbeing of our family and that of the planet, we’re reshaping how we shop, cook and eat. Welcome to the era of the mindful consumer.”

The Vegan Society claims that the number of vegans quadrupled between 2014 and 2018.

According to Waitrose’s report, the most common reason for the surge is concerns over animal welfare, with 55 per cent of respondents citing this at their motivation.

Meanwhile, 45 per cent said they became vegan or vegetarian because they thought it was healthier while 38 per cent made the change out of “environmental concerns” – participants could choose more than one option.

The rising number of people shunning meat and dairy products from their diets was also evident in the items listen in the report’s most popular foods, which include miso, kefir and jackfruit – a popular meat substitute.

According to Collins, the findings reflect a “consumer revolution”.

 

WAV Comment – 55% citing ‘animal welfare’ as their motivation for dropping meat – maybe our posts are getting the message through to folk.  

Brilliant news on what is a sad day otherwise.

demo eu

Farm Animals

The last journey…

 

Schweiz

For the World Vegan Day today I have read a nice article from the side of the Association Against animal factories (Verein gegen Tierfabriken Schweiz VgT) , and would like to share it with everyone.

Geladenen Schweine

Like so many crimes, this happens in the middle of the night. Crime scene: ​​A pigsty in Obertuttwil Canton Thurgau (Switzerland), as there are countless in Switzerland.

Act time: 30.October 2018 2:30 clock.

They are pig children who are torn out from their sleep and loaded in the middle of the night. They are only between 5-6 months old. But they already weigh over 100kg. Torment breedings cause that they quickly set meat. The joints hurt, because the bone growth of the turbo mast can not withstand. They have never seen a meadow or the sky above them. They spent their lives in a much too narrow dirty bay, where the smell of ammonia burned in their eyes and their sensitive nose.

Now they have started their last journey. They hit the wall of the van and grunt anxiously. But nobody has mercy.

How long will they have to stay in the tansporter until they are sent to their death in the slaughterhouse?

Beitrag der Schweizer VGT_o

Their cruel ending after a deeply sad life they find in the gas chamber.

Do you understand why we call it crime?

Our thoughts are with these and all the other thousands of animal children who are being killed today. In the slaughterhouse in Bazenheid 360 pigs are slaughtered per hour! We hope that they have survived the terrible soon.

We will never understand why people do all this to them for a quick palate tickling.

Only with a vegan diet do you not share responsibility for this suffering!

 

(Translation: Venus, with best regards)

Farm Animals, General News

England: Horses Bring London Orbital Motorway To A Stop – But Animals Rounded Up; No Killing Involved.

 

England

Pictures: horses bring M25 to a standstill

WAV Comment – For those of you who are NOT in the UK; the M25 is the orbital motorway which circumnavigates London town.  A very busy road all of the time.  All the horses were eventually rounded up and moved to a safe location.  No killings and shootings of the animals by the police as we may see in other EU nations.  A bit of disruption, but expect many commuters were pleased to have some different cabaret on their morning commute.

 Horses M25 1

Drivers were brought to a standstill on the M25 this morning, after a group of horses got loose on the carriageway in Hertfordshire.

Astonished commuters snapped these pictures, as police chased the animals to get them out of the road.

Horses M25 2

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Australia: Good News Re Aus Live Exports – it is now a matter of when, not if, live export will end.

Australia

 

Dear Mark,

Scathing. That’s the best way to describe the independent assessment of the regulation of Australia’s live export trade.

In his review, released today, Philip Moss found that evidence of cruelty has been dismissed, ignored and even, at times, covered-up by the officials responsible for holding the live export industry to account.

Of course, this isn’t news to us, Mark. The Department of Agriculture had neither the expertise, nor the political support, to hold to account an industry with a cultural acceptance of cruelty and law-breaking.

It’s somewhat of a relief to finally have the truth on the public record. To have Animals Australia’s role as industry watchdog formally acknowledged; to have validated the efforts of whistle-blowers and investigators who’ve risked their lives to expose what this industry does to animals; and to have the calls for help that have fallen on deaf ears for decades condemned in the strongest possible terms.

The government has accepted all recommendations in the Moss Review, knowing anything less would fuel further public outrage. What the Morrison government fails to understand though is that there’s no redemption for this industry — and nothing less than a decision to end the trade will be embraced by Australians.

That’s where our focus remains, and as the Sydney Morning Herald printed today:

“If Labor is elected it looks set to end the industry. The now Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is trying to save the industry, but it is now a matter of when not if [live export will end].”
Mark, I’ve stood in some of the most brutal slaughterhouses on the planet, witnessing first-hand the horrors Australia’s live export industry is responsible for. Step by step we have exposed this industry, and called those responsible for inflicting dreadful suffering to account. Every additional layer of regulation, scrutiny and accountability that has resulted from our work will contribute to its inevitable demise.

But for today, I’m thinking about dear Fazal, who risked his life and sacrificed his career to expose the suffering that sparked this review. I’m thinking about the countless animals who’ve suffered so egregiously, and who have been so let down by those whose job it was to protect them. And I’m thinking about you, Mark. Your kindness and generosity is the reason we are able to be a voice for these animals. And, because of your unwavering support… we are being heard.

In gratitude, always,

Lyn White AM
Director of Strategy
Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

England: (London) Spooky Halloween Petition of Over 1 Million Signatures Handed To Government Demanding Stop To Live Animal Exports.

 

England

On Monday, the streets of London were truly haunted by the horror of UK live exports. As darkness fell, over 1 million petition signatures collected by Compassion in World Farming, 30 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs were delivered to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, urging the Secretary of State to #StopLiveTransport.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who signed the petitions, joined the #StopLiveTransport Day of Action in June, and helped rally so many citizens against the cruelty of live exports.

ciwf october hall 1

On your behalf, our ‘zombie’ Hallowe’en sheep and calves formed a spooky parade to hand in the signatures to Defra. They represented all the British animals who have died during the horror of long distance transport. Check out the full story here.
In total, in 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe. Many exported animals endure over-crowded journeys without enough food or space to move. Those that survive may then be fattened in barren conditions illegal in the UK, or subjected to inhumane slaughter.

This is why the government must take action to ban exports for slaughter and fattening, and why the 1 million petition signatures are so important. Thank you again to everyone who added their voice.

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

This week, the streets between DEFRA and Parliament were truly haunted when we joined forces with, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and SumOfUs, to deliver over one million petition signatures to DEFRA, urging the Minister for the Environment, Michael Gove, to #StopLiveTransport

A chilling reminder

Last May, the government pledged to take action on live exports but nothing has happened. This Halloween, a spooky parade of ‘zombie sheep and calves’ marched to DEFRA’s offices in London to hand in the signatures. These ‘zombie animals’ represent those who have died during transport, coming back from the dead to haunt DEFRA, to remind them of their promise to end live exports.

In 2017, tens of thousands of sheep and young calves were exported from the UK to continental Europe on long journeys that result in immense suffering. Many of these animals are kept in over-crowded conditions without enough food, water, or space to move, and often face an inhumane slaughter at their final destination.

“The true horror of live transport is absolutely shocking,” explained Downton Abbey actor and Compassion Patron, Peter Egan who participated in the event and has actively supported the campaign. “It’s appalling that we allow such cruelty to continue.”

Growing public pressure

Nick Palmer, our Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “This delivery of over one million signatures, highlights growing public pressure to end this barbaric practice. The live transport of animals on long, exhausting journeys, in horrendous conditions is not acceptable.

“It’s time for the UK government to enforce a UK-wide ban on live exports for slaughter and further fattening.”

Take action

You may have seen the news that unweaned Scottish calves are now being trucked to Kent for export. In the face of this appalling trade, we must keep up the pressure from every angle. Please email Michael Gove, Defra Secretary of State, today.

Farm Animals, General News

England: Three men Animal Equality exposed abusing pigs charged with animal cruelty offences.

England

 

Three men Animal Equality exposed abusing pigs charged with animal cruelty offences

The workers, named as Artis Grogprkevs, 31, from Goxhill; Gavin Hardy, 39, from South Killingholme, and Troy Wagstaff, 30, from Grimsby, will appear in court next month. 

All three men have been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to pigs by inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and using a pitchfork inappropriately, shocking footage of which we exposed earlier in the year.   

Investigators visited Fir Tree Farm several times between 1st and 27th April 2018 after an anonymous tip-off about animal cruelty from a brave whistleblower. They recorded serious and repeated violent abuse of pigs by members of staff, including repeated incidents of pigs being violently kicked in the face and head. Workers were also filmed slamming gates on pigs’ heads, repeatedly jabbing pigs with pitchforks and laughing at the abuse.

Scarred and wounded pig resulting from abuse on Fir Tree farm.

Animal Equality passed all of our evidence to the RSPCA and welcome the news that they have now pressed charges. The three men in question are due to appear at Grimsby Magistrates Court on November 22. We expect them to face the full force of the law for this sickening and inexcusable abuse.

Footage from this investigation shocked the nation and we had many people contact us to say they had given up eating pork or were making the switch to a vegetarian diet as a direct result. It’s thanks to generous supporters like you that we’re able to carry out investigations like this one, bringing animal abusers to justice and showing people the truth behind the food they’re eating.

Please, help us continue this lifesaving work by donating today.

See BBC news on this:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46017860