Demand doctor on site

Animal rights activists besiege pig farm in Lower Austria

The fully slatted floor has once again led to great animal suffering.

(Bild: VGT.at)

The dramatic conditions at a pig farm have led to a protest meeting in the district of Mistelbach (Lower Austria). Some of the animal rights activists even entered the barn; the action started on Wednesday morning, claiming that there was "imminent danger". The Association Against Animal Factories wanted to draw attention to the fully slatted floor in particular, which had "once again led to great animal suffering".

Large dents, bitten off tails, serious injuries: The fully slatted floor is the reason for devastating animal suffering at a pig fattening farm in Mistelbach, Lower Austria, and has led to a spontaneous demonstration in front of the fully fattening farm.

"Dramatic conditions" at a full-fattening farm
According to information leaked to the Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) on Monday evening, eight of the animal rights activists entered a full-fattening farm in Lower Austria under the strictest hygiene standards "to see the dramatic conditions for themselves". Their suspicions were confirmed: they immediately informed the police.

A spontaneous VGT demonstration against the full-slatted floor formed in front of the farm.

(Bild: VGT.at)

VGT leader Martin Balluch called on the public health officer to inspect the farm, furthermore "the animals must be helped immediately". The animal rights activists are currently holding out in the pig farm and waiting for the responsible authorities.

The pigs have large bumps...

(Bild: VGT.at)

... bitten-off tails and serious injuries.

(Bild: VGT.at)

When the animal rights activists were convinced of their suspicions, they immediately called the police.

(Bild: VGT.at)

ÖVP wants to "leave conditions unchanged"
Balluch is particularly critical of the ÖVP: "Fully slatted floors without straw bedding! These are the conditions that the ÖVP wants to leave unchanged until 2040 and, in truth, forever!" According to the VGT, however, the animals do not have this time. They would need soft straw bedding to be able to lie and burrow comfortably. There is "imminent danger" and the non-profit association is calling on the authorities to intervene immediately in order to "put an immediate end to this cruelty to animals".

Investigations were carried out after the police arrived at the full-fattening farm. Chief inspector Baumschlager reported that the protest was calm. The participants will be charged with unregistered assembly.

Greens call for ban on full-slat farms
Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) also made a political statement on Wednesday. In the interests of the animals, he also called for "a swift end to full-splitting farms, as they have now been uncovered again". Accordingly, the transitional period for the ban on unstructured full-slatted pens should be repaired "as quickly as possible". From the animal welfare minister's point of view, the problem here is also the ÖVP. The ÖVP had already stopped talks on an agreement to repair this transitional period in June.

The Lower Austrian Greens support Rauch's criticism. "Keeping pigs under these conditions is not only a violation of animal welfare, but also a disgrace for Lower Austria," said Dominic Hörlezeder, member of the provincial parliament, in a statement.