What’s happening to pigs at slaughter houses at night?

Many pigs get transported to slaughterhouses from noon to night one day before they get slaughtered.

Their breath is heavy already, and some are foaming at the mouths.

Then, they get showered to rinse off their feces and urine. This is the same procedure in winter, too.

86% of pig slaughterhouses in Japan don’t have drinking water for pigs, so pigs can’t drink after they lick some water mixed with feces and urine on the floor coming from the shower.

And, night falls. What happens there?

You hear pigs’ fierce cry, scream, and sound of battle at night, midnight, and dawn, all the time. Again, this lasts all nightlong.

Please stop cruelty at Slaughterhouses

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The followings are the concerns when the waiting area gets too crowded.

Even when there is drinking water, some pigs are not able to access it.
Other pigs get distressed every time a pig drinks water.
Battles occur.
There is no enrichment.
Pigs are not able to lie down.
Pigs get dehydrated due to battles and too much movement.

What is needed in order to reduce the risk of battles?

Fewer pigs

It is essential not to fully occupy the waiting area. The battles can be reduced if the area only fills 2/3 of capacity.
It’s said the best density is ½ of MAX capacity.
If pigs must wait for a long time, there needs to be room for pigs to lie down. So it is recommended to keep 1/3 of the space empty.

Make room to avoid each other

If there are different groups, there must be room for pigs to avoid each other. They can be separated by an alley, for example. That way stress can be minimized as weak pigs have a way out to avoid conflicts.

Add scent

The scent of boars on fences can be helpful. If pigs smell such scents, battles tend to decrease. Just spraying dirt containing the scent of boars will do.

Another method practiced in small slaughterhouses in the Netherlands is vinegar sprayed behind the necks of pigs.

Reduce Noise

Pigs are very sensitive to unfamiliar or sudden noise. And yet, their sense of hearing is as good as humans.
However, they are able to detect ultra audible sound that humans can’t.

Therefore, it is important to minimize various kinds of noise in order for pigs to be calm.

It is effective to use plastic gates instead of metal doors or fences since they don’t make noises when opening or closing.

Set drinking facility

Not only does it hurt physically, it also makes pigs mentally desperate since it’s a matter of life or death. Animals are confined and there is no way out. On top of that, there is no water or food.

Anxiety and frustration grows for thirst. It is crucial to have water available for all pigs.

Distraction

Spreading corn in the waiting area is also effective for smooth movement and reduction of battles.

Newly arrived pigs have a positive experience and are able to calm down.
Pigs are busy assessing corn and their attention is concentrated on the floor.
This makes pigs less stressed despite the new environment they are just put in as there is more time for exploration and less time for fighting.

Ropes, wood chips, or straw may be also useful.

The above has been suggested to the slaughterhouse in the video above.
However, the improvement is yet to be observed.

Stop transporting pigs a day before the slaughter

There is an easier and more ultimate solution than the methods mentioned above.

The pig farmers could simply transport pigs on the day of slaughter.
Unlike chicken slaughterhouses, pig slaughterhouses are not too far from the farms.

There is at least one pig slaughterhouse in each prefecture, it takes only up to 2-3 hours at the longest.
Some farmers may transport pigs to Tokyo as it’s said the price is higher there, but most pigs get slaughtered within the area.

If they care to meet the international standards and try to alleviate unnecessary pain to pigs, it is only natural to reduce the transportation time.

And yet, it is not done so.

Slaughterhouses can’t say no to pigs when they are delivered. So it is farmers (or specialized transporters) who are stuffing pigs in the slaughterhouses unmercifully.

Please don’t let pigs suffer at the last 24hours of their time before being slaughtered.

Please provide them with water at least.