Goulburn Valley piggeries accused of animal cruelty by Farm Transparency Project
An animal activist group has released footage from five Victorian piggeries which allegedly show dying piglets and injured sows, as industry representatives fight back against the activists.
Goulburn Valley
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An animal rights group claims three Goulburn Valley piggeries are breaching animal welfare laws and promises to expose more illegal acts in coming weeks.
However, industry representatives say farmers continue to uphold high levels of care for their animals and the activists endangered the pigs.
Farm Transparency Project has released footage from five farms including, Markanda Piggery in Wyuna East, Girgarre Piggery in Kyabram and Nagambie Breeder in Bailiestown.
The footage allegedly showed dead and dying piglets, pigs living in their own waste and sows with large pressure sores, cuts and scratches, which is evidence of fighting between pigs.
The footage was gathered by anonymous civilian investigators over two nights in January.
Farm Transparency Project executive director Chris Delforce said the Australian pig meat industry was “entirely irredeemable”.
“Mother pigs spend hours or days surrounded by the bodies of their dead and dying piglets, unable to reach them or even to prevent themselves from crushing their tiny bodies,” he said.
“For over 10 years, the pig industry has been shown to be one of the largest and most horrific causes of animal suffering in Australia.
“It needs to be shut down, and it needs to be shut down now.”
Agriculture Victoria received five animal welfare reports regarding piggeries on January 28.
An Agriculture Victoria spokeswoman said any report of a breach of animal welfare laws was taken very seriously.
“These reports are being investigated as a matter of priority,” she said.
“The report received is now being assessed to determine any further actions.”
A spokesperson for George Weston Foods, which owns Girgarre Piggery, said the company took animal welfare seriously and prided itself on high farming standards.
“George Weston Foods is aware of the vigilante activity at our Girgarre Piggery in Victoria,” the spokesperson said.
“We have informed local law enforcement as this attack poses a significant threat to biosecurity and creates enormous risk to the welfare of the pigs.”
A statement from SunPork, which owns Nagambie Breeder, said the company “strongly condemns all acts of trespass and any contravention of biosecurity measures.”
The Victorian Farmers Federation pig group president David Wright said the industry maintained high levels of animal welfare standards, as demonstrated by evidence provided for the Parliamentary Inquiry into Pig Welfare.
“The illegal activities of activists who endanger our farms and pigs and cause ongoing trauma for hardworking farmers and communities must be called out,” he said.
“Their illegal trespass, bullying, theft and harassment must be met with the full force of the law and they must be held accountable.
“Our farmers will continue to uphold the highest levels of care for our animals, while delivering high-quality, sustainable and affordable protein to Australians.”
The Department of Agriculture confirmed they will investigate the alleged cruelty.
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