Immense injuries

Disturbing pictures from pigsty again!

The conditions at the pig farm in the Styrian district of Weiz are catastrophic.

(Bild: VGT)

The disturbing photos from a pig farm in southern Styria are still fresh in our minds - we reported on them. Now the Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) has received photos from another farm that reveal the full misery of the piglet "industry"!

Pigs with a huge lump on their necks, bodies covered in scratches, with an immense bloody injury at the back, where conspecifics are already eating. Lack of activity, dirty slatted floor, tails cut off. The pictures from a pig fattening farm in southern Styria, which were made public a few days ago by the Verein gegen Tierfabriken (Association Against Animal Factories), are hard to stomach for anyone with heart and empathy. Cruelty to animals? "There's not much left", the authorities hastened to say. 

(Bild: VGT)

(Bild: VGT)

Harsh reality
Now the association has been leaked photos again, this time from a pig farm in the neighboring district of Weiz. This shows the harsh reality and the misery of piglet rearing. Once again, some of the small animals have bloody bite wounds or skin lesions, they are standing on full slats without any straw. 

(Bild: VGT)

And the mother animal is crammed into one of those unspeakable crates reminiscent of medieval instruments of torture. Such a sensitive animal, degraded to a birthing and nursing machine, almost unable to move and, according to the VGT, without any material to keep it occupied. David Richter from the VGT: "And this goes on for weeks. We see a pig almost manically moving its head in the water just to be able to do something." 

We see a pig almost manically moving its head in the water just to be able to do something.

David Richter vom VGT

Two farms, the same operator
This revelation by animal rights activists is particularly piquant: "In the case uncovered in southern Styria, the pigs had their tails cut off, which has long been prohibited. The operator claimed that he had already bought in the piglets like this! The origin can be identified from the ear tags. And it is clear from ear tag comparisons and company register excerpts: The operator of the huge fattening farm in southern Styria is also the managing director of the company that 'produces' the piglets. Where the tails were cut off," says David Richter.

Many unanswered questions
The district governor of Leibnitz will have to put up with the question of whether the authorities followed the path of the piglets. And why it takes animal rights activists to uncover what is actually a matter for the authorities. The district governor Manfred Walch, asked for comment, said that he had no time.