What’s Wrong with High- Welfare Animal Products?

Meat, milk and eggs produced under so-called ‘higher welfare’ schemes – including Freedom Food, free-range and organic – have become increasingly popular amongst consumers in recent years, thanks in part to high profile publicity campaigns by celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. These campaigns have helped bring to the attention of a mass audience, the terrible conditions and appalling suffering inside factory farms. Consequently, many people are now choosing free-range and organic labels in an attempt to reduce animal suffering and ease their consciences. But how much do these schemes really benefit found similar problems on an RSPCA-approved the animals? egg-laying farm. Freedom Food farms are officially The following focuses on chickens and pigs inspected just once a year. because they are the species subjected to the most overtly intensive breeding and rearing Freedom Food rules state that only slow growing regimes. breeds of chicken can be reared. This is intended to prevent welfare problems associated with factory farming, such as leg disorders and heart failure. Freedom Food However, our investigation revealed that, by the age of seven days, many of the 30,000 chicks contained The RSPCA is supposed to help animals but it has, 6 in the unit to which we made repeat visits already 4 instead, been involved in their intensive production

5 had painful hip and leg injuries. This prevented them

4 and slaughter for the past decade through its

6 from reaching water and food and caused their slow,

3 Freedom Food scheme. The chickens and other painful deaths. Freedom Food birds are still

2 animals kept in Freedom Food-approved hangar-like

3 selectively bred to reach slaughter weight in as little

7 sheds eke out an existence little different from what

1 as 49 days. In the wild it would take three months animals experience in the mainstream, factory farm 0

for a chick to reach adult size. : l operations that they are meant to improve upon. e t

Pigs

• Chickens

k Not all pigs on Freedom Food farms are permitted The RSPCA’s welfare rules for broiler chickens (birds u

. access to the outdoors. As with chickens, Freedom

g reared for meat) do not require that they have r Food does not mean ‘free-range’. Shockingly, the o access to the outside – so Freedom Food does not . RSPCA still sanctions the use of controversial d i mean free-range. The only noticeable difference a

l farrowing crates in which sows are forced to give between Freedom Food and mainstream intensive a birth and suckle their young. These Medieval-looking m systems is that the birds must be provided with i contraptions are so small that sows can only stand, n straw bales, perches and pecking objects. a

. sit or lie for the entire duration of their confinement – Overcrowding in Freedom Food farms is a significant w usually around four weeks. They cannot step w problem, as 15 broiler chickens can be kept per forwards or backwards, or turn around. w square metre - only two birds fewer than in intensive conditions. For egg-laying hens, the number of birds Tail docking – a routine mutilation under intensive permitted per square metre is the same for Freedom regimes – is against RSPCA principles, but it is e Food as for standard intensive units. accepted in certain cases where there is a tail-biting l problem. When pigs are kept in crowded conditions During a 2008 investigation into a Freedom Food i with no stimulation, they take out their boredom and chicken farm, Animal Aid found large numbers of f frustration on their companions, and the easiest lame, starving, dead and dying birds. Perches and target is the tail. t straw bales remained stacked up against the wall during a number of visits. The perches were Pigs who are kept outside are subject to another unusable by the majority of the birds and no pecking mutilation: nose ringing. This is done without any c objects had been provided. Our undercover film was anaesthetic and is to prevent the pigs from shown as the lead story on Channel Five news just muddying up fields by carrying out their natural

a days after the programme had featured another rooting behaviour. Most outdoor pigs are given only investigation by Hillside Animal Sanctuary, which a few square metres. f factfile www.animalaid.org.uk • tel: 01732 364546 some mayfind it difficult towalk. rapidly, theirmobilityisimpaired and bred toput onlargeamountsofweight go outside.Becausetheyhave been other reasons whytheydon’t chooseto Chickens reared fortheir meathave factory farms. of chickensasthoseinmainstr the sameweakened,highly-bred strain conditions theyencounter cope withpathogensandweather do makeitoutsidemaystruggleto may beguar And someterritoriallyaggr the chickenstoreach thepopholes. a shed,itisoftendif the numberofbir go outside.Also,asthere isnolimitto flock’. any onetimewaslessthan15percentofthetotal number observedoutsideduringdaylighthoursat ar regulations require birds tohaveaccessoutdoor fr A studyofapproximately 800,000 chickenskepton shed) foratleasthalfoftheirlifetime. outside access(viapopholesinthesideof metre respectively), aslongtheyhavedaytime eggs tobekeptinsheds(13and9birds persquare standards allowchickens bred fortheirfleshand and RuralAffairs) website. Basicfree-range out ontheDefra(DepartmentforEnvironment that goesbeyondthebasicfree-range criteria,asset These schemesmakewelfare provision forpoultry Beak trimming access. b Total Freedom’ hassimilarrequirements, butthe greater minimumageatslaughter. ‘Free-Range – o differ from ‘Free-Range’ byrequiring more extensive For example,‘Traditional Free-Range’ requirements d The free-range labelisconfusing,asthere are lotsof Chickens Free-Range pr habitat thatpr chickens, muchliketheirwildancestors,needa simply notapr like toavoidbrightsunlight.Awide,openfieldis ee-range farmsintheUKfoundthat,eventhough pen-air access,alowerstockingdensityand irds musthaveunrestricted daytimeopen-air ifferent schemesthateachhavetheirowncriteria. eas foratleasteighthoursaday, ‘themaximum edators. Somechickensar 2 Chickens prefer rangingareas withtrees and ding theexits.Thosewho ovides shelterfr eferr ds thatcanbekeptin ed habitat.Domesticated ficult forsomeof , astheyar essive bir e simplytooscar om wind,sun,and eam ds 1 e ed to than chicks. Freedom Foodbirds, butstilltheyare littlemore o sent toslaughterat56daysold.Thisisaslightly free-range standards. The‘meat’chickenswillbe a upper andlowerbeakisremoved whenthechicks Beak trimming–amutilationinwhichthird ofthe trough. Consequently, theydonotventure farfrom thefeed standards canvaryconsiderably. are movedtoindoorsystems where thewelfare weaned –atthree orfour weeks old–andthenthey benefit from thefree-range conditionsuntiltheyare lined withstrawandalsoprovide shelter. Thepiglets sows givebirthinhutsorpigarcs, whichare usually mothers staythroughout their breeding lives.The outside. birth infarrowing cratesandthepigletsare reared maximise theirbreeding potential.Thesowsgive indoors becausetheirmothersare kepthousedto It iscommonfor‘free-range’ pigletstobeborn providing anyexplanation. products as‘outdoorbred’ or‘free-range’ without free-range pigs,whichmeansretailers canlabelpork t range’, ‘outdoorbred’ or‘outdoorreared’. Infact, terms usedonporkproducts –termssuchas‘free- t A recent RSPCA-commissionedpollfoundthatonly Pigs root andexplore. foot problems anddenythe pigstheopportunityto crowded conditionsonslatted floors,whichcause indoor fatteningunits.Here, theanimalsare keptin In theUK,90percentofallpigletsare ‘finished’in nurse theiryounginsemi-naturalconditions. still farshortofthe17weeksthatpigssuckleand moved toindoorrearing/finishing units.Ten weeksis outdoors forupto10weeksofagebefor piglets ar ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ O O O O here isnolegaldefinitionorformalstandards for wo percentofthosequestionedunderstandthe re tendaysoldorless–isstillpermittedunder lder slaughteragethanfactoryfarmedand u u u u t t t t d d d d o o o o o o o o r r r r

e bor b b r r e e r r a a e e r r d d e e ’ ’ n outsideandhavefullaccesstothe d d pigs areoutside,where born their ’ ’ 4 describes asysteminwhichthe So w inf ar e being r o wing cr 3 at e have access to the outdoors, weather permitting. Accommodation and bedding must meet the needs of the particular species, allowing them to perform their natural behaviours, such as nesting, rooting, dust bathing etc. Practices associated with conventional farming methods, such as attaching elastic bands to the tails of sheep, cutting of teeth, trimming of beaks and dehorning must not be carried out systematically under organic farming rules. However, these activities may be authorised if they are said to be aimed at improving the health, welfare or hygiene of the animals.6 Slower growing breeds must be used in order to try to avoid the inherent illnesses caused when animals put on weight too quickly. Indoor fattening unit Under mainstream factory farming regimes, pigs are killed at around five months old. Under organic Despite the lack of regulated standards in pig farming systems, they live longer and ‘boar taint’ – farming, the British government insists that there is where the presence of testosterone in adult male no need for more rules and argues that pig welfare pigs is said to affect the taste of the meat – laws are already tighter here than in the rest of becomes an issue. To avoid this ‘taint’, organic Europe. The British Pig Executive (BPEX) is a levy standards permit the castration of male piglets – a board that receives money from every pig painful mutilation – often without anaesthetic. slaughtered and uses it to promote the industry. Recently, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled Chickens that BPEX adverts – showing healthy-looking pigs on SA standards permit ten meat or six egg-laying thick straw or out in the fields with plenty of space to chickens per square metre.7 The Association roam – which maintained that British pigs enjoy ‘very certifies farms with a flock size of up to 2,000 laying high standards’, were misleading and must not be birds or 1,000 meat birds, but actually recommends used again. In 2008, Animal Aid investigated seven no more than 500 for either.8 Basic EU organic farms operated by BPEX directors and filmed very standards permit up to 4,800 meat birds and 3,000 different scenes from those portrayed in their laying hens in one shed, which can lead to serious adverts. Among the scenes recorded by Animal Aid problems including feather pecking, bullying, and 6 were pregnant and nursing sows incarcerated in

4 grave illness or suffering going unnoticed. With larger

5 farrowing crates; dead, sick and dying piglets

4 flocks there is greater pressure on the available

6 littering the pens; animals wading through filth or

3 pasture and therefore a greater likelihood of a

living in utterly barren environments; a lack of

2 parasite build up. And – as with ‘free range’

3 bedding; and a lack of environmental enrichment,

7 systems, – some birds will never venture outdoors. despite the law stating that this must be provided. 1 EU organic standards state that poultry must have 0

And although routine tail docking has been : l access to an open-air run for at least one third of e prohibited in Britain since 1994, British farmers t

their lives, but this need be granted only when

• continue to flout this law. A 2008 report by the 9 weather conditions permit. k European Food Safety Authority found that 75-80 u . per cent of British pigs are still tail docked.5 Although the Soil Association doesn’t usually permit g r the practice of beak-trimming, it has been found to o . Organic d be widespread on many organic farms. A survey by i a l Just as free-range systems vary enormously, so the RSPCA found that 19 out of 20 organic farms a there are also several ‘organic’ schemes linked to visited had laying flocks that had been beak- m i 10 n various certifying bodies, all with their own set of trimmed. a . standards. There are minimum EU standards that w The minimum age at slaughter for organically reared w have to be met, but on top of those, certifying chickens is 81 days – twice the age of ‘standard’ w bodies can develop their own higher creteria. The chickens, but still far short of their natural lifespan. Soil Association (SA) is the UK’s main certifying mark and its standards are among the highest in the world – especially in terms of animal welfare. However, e organic farming is principally concerned with l consumer satisfaction rather than animal welfare. It i is about the (chemical-free) food fed to the animals f and their medication regime. But because organic

t farmers cannot administer drugs routinely – unlike on most factory farms where they’re fed a cocktail of pharmaceuticals in an effort to keep them alive in the c filth and squalor – it means they need to take greater care of the animals. a Under the basic EU standards, every animal must Free-range chickens f Pigs Under basic organic standards, most piglets stay with their mother and siblings outside until they are sent to slaughter. However, the final fattening phase of organic pigs (and cows and sheep, as well) may take place indoors, provided that this indoor period does not exceed one fifth of their lifetime. Nose-ringing is prohibited or restricted by UK organic certifiers, thereby allowing pigs to perform natural rooting and digging behaviour. However, nose-ringing is practised by organic pig producers in Denmark – from where many pig products are other forms of transport.11 Some people argue that imported. Shelter is provided in the form of pig arcs, organic animal farming is the sustainable answer but but this may be inadequate during extreme weather the output – and therefore the number of people conditions. Artificial insemination is permitted under who can be fed – is considerably less than that organic rules. This is not only a completely unnatural produced by mainstream factory farming methods, process for both sexes, but highly invasive. given the amount of resources needed. Slaughter In environmental terms, the factory-farmed chicken If meat is going to be marketed as organic, the is more energy efficient than his free-range or animal must be slaughtered and butchered by organic cousins. Because of their short lifespan, fast operators who are registered with an organic growth and crowded housing – all of which cause inspection body and who are subject to annual terrible suffering – factory farmed chickens require inspection. Most organic farms use local 32 per cent less energy per tonne of meat to rear slaughterhouses to minimise the distance the than organic birds.12 Housed animals give humans animals have to travel. However, the journey remains more control, so to some extent the diet can be a terrifying ordeal for many, as is the process of manipulated to maximise growth and minimise slaughter, whether it’s at an organically approved polluting gases. But thankfully, people who care abattoir or not. about environmentalism usually care also about the welfare and rights of animals. For those people, And no matter the system under which the animals there is a healthy, nutritious and tasty dietary option are reared, male chicks are still gassed or minced that is less damaging to the planet and causes no 6 alive shortly after birth, as they are of no use to the 4 harm to animals. 5 egg industry; and male dairy calves – unable to 4

6 produce milk – are still shot at birth. And when

3 The compassionate egg-laying hens’ productivity declines they will end 2

3 their short lives as cheap meat products. choice 7

1 There is no humane meat. Animals’ lives are as 0

: important to them as ours are to us and none go to l Sustainable option e

t the knife willingly. Choosing organic, free-range or Animal farming uses up vast amounts of land, • Freedom Food over standard meat, milk or eggs,

k energy and water (see Wrecking The Planet continues to cause pain and suffering, and wastes u

. factsheet). With a rising human population

g natural resources. r consuming more animal products, animal farming is o . not sustainable in a world where resources are in The only viable solution to end animal suffering and d i

a help protect the planet is to adopt an animal-free l short supply. The United Nations has reported that a animal farming is responsible for 18 per cent of diet. Contact Animal Aid for a FREE veggie or vegan m i global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the guide, including recipes, shopping tips and n a

. total generated worldwide by planes, cars and all nutritional information. w w w References

1) Pye-Smith, C. 2003. Batteries not included, organic farming and animal production, labelling and control. welfare. Soil Association 7) Soil Association. Organic Poultry Production: An introductory guide. Food 2) Dawkins, M.S. et al. 2003. What makes free-range broiler chickens and Farming Department e range? In Situ Measurement of Habitat Preference, Animal Behaviour 66: 8) Pye-Smith, C. 2003. Batteries not included, organic farming and animal l 151-60 welfare. Soil Association i 3) European Food Safety Authority. 2007. Scientific report on animal health 9) Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. Laying down detailed rules and welfare aspects of different housing and husbandry systems for adult for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic f breeding boars, pregnant, farrowing sows and unweaned piglets production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic 4) Pye-Smith, C. 2003. Batteries not included, organic farming and animal production, labelling and control. t welfare. Soil Association 10) Pye-Smith, C. 2003. Batteries not included, organic farming and animal 5) European Food Safety Authority. 2007. Scientific report on animal health welfare. Soil Association and welfare aspects of different housing and husbandry systems for adult 11) Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations. 2006. c breeding boars, pregnant, farrowing sows and unweaned piglets Livestock’s long shadow – environmental issues and options. 6) Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. Laying down detailed rules 12) Waddington, P. 2008. Shades Of Green: A (mostly) practical A-Z for the for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic reluctant environmentalist. Eden Project books. a production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic f