The great pork debate

Before I get into the pros and cons, I first want to highlight this exchange from the Herald:

Agriculture Minister David Carter had earlier asked animal rights campaigners to give up the name and location of the farm shown on TVNZ’s Sunday programme.

The images showed pigs frothing at the mouth and unable to move inside their cages and aired on TVNZ’s Sunday programme.

Mr Carter said the farm would be inspected by authorities.

“The television images were disturbing. It is essential we find out if this intensive pig farming operation is in breach of the Animal Welfare Act,” Mr Carter said in a statement released this morning.

However, SAFE campaigner Hans Kriek said he would not be disclosing the information immediately.

When asked by nzherald.co.nz if that was due to publicity, Mr Kriek said yes.

“I’m not going to give you all the details of our strategy, which is a very sound one,” Mr Kriek said.

So after the documentary screened, the Minister immediately said he would investigate and wanted to send inspectors in to check if the pigs pictured were being treated in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.

However SAFE refused to disclose the location of the farm. Yes SAFE, which claims to care for animals, refused to allow animal inspectors to find out where the farm is. And why? Because doing so would not fit in with their public relations strategy!

So SAFE puts PR ahead of animal welfare. Worth remembering.

On the issue of sow stalls, I don’t yet know enough. One expert last night said that if you don’t have them, it can be worse as the pigs fight and sometimes kill each other.

I don’t buy pork or bacon myself, but the sensible thing for those who don’t like sow crates is to buy free-range pork only.