September 25, 2008

Gestation Crates in Brazil

Cruel confinement

Humane Society International

In Brazil, approximately 1.5 million breeding sows are treated as piglet-producing units at industrial facilities. These animals suffer through rapid cycles of breeding, pregnancy, and nursing. During their four-month pregnancies, sows are confined in gestation crates, individual metal stalls measuring only 0.6 meters (2 feet) wide by 2.1 meters (7 feet) long. These crates are so small the animals cannot even turn around.

Shortly before giving birth, sows are moved to similarly restrictive farrowing crates, where they are confined until the piglets are prematurely weaned at 2-4 weeks of age. Piglets can reach the sow to nurse, but, as with the gestation crate, the sow's ability to move is limited mainly to lying down and standing up, and she is unable to turn around.  Natural nesting behavior is completely thwarted in the artificial confines of a farrowing crate.

Crated sows are likely to experience boredom, frustration, and psychological trauma caused by behavioral restriction. In naturalistic environments, pigs spend more than 50 percent of their day foraging, rooting, and grazing. In a stall however, oral behavior is often directed to the only substrate available—the bars of the crate. Bar-biting is an abnormal repetitive behavior induced by frustration, which is very common on factory farms. 

Crated sows endure numerous other health problems resulting from their confinement. For more information, please see the HSUS report [PDF] on the welfare of sows used for breeding.

Pigs are one of the smartest animals on earth—brainier than dogs or three-year-old children. These gentle animals naturally form close-knit groups led by females and raise their young together. Take action to help end the mistreatment of millions of pigs on factory farms.

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