"We must face the fact that pigs are kept in the most mentally cruel and physical conditions where they cant even trun around.
Where they stand there screaming and chewing at the metal bars- Slowly going mad."

Well putting them out of their misery seems like an act of great kindness. I'll enjoy my plate of Christmas flesh all the more knowing that my carnivorous predilections have helped to create a market that saves these creatures from such torture.

Pass the crackling.

“Can anyone tell me why we use pink-skinned pigs for the domestic market in Australia?”

Because black hairs show on the carcass. Pigs are not skinned, they are dehaired but only the hair on the surface is removed, the dark follicles show and people are offended by that. Probably confronts them with exactly what they are eating. BTW Woolworths refuse any animals with colour.

“no business would shoulder these burdens if there wasnt a good reason for them.”

There was a very good reason – the ability to cram 1,000’s of pigs onto minimal acreage. Keep them controlled and contained (minimal handling) Pigs were very profitable around 30 – 40 years ago when these systems came in. It has been in decline since. To compete, the big guys just kept getting bigger. Economy of scale was the only way to make money from pigs in the end.

“but am also able to realise that there are often reasons behind why some things are done that extend further than simply profit motive”

Nope, no other reason. Up until 1960 the majority of pig farms in australia were free range but they were small. It is impossible to farm large numbers (talking tens of thousands) in a free range environment, so they put them in intensive sheds and have been trying to justify doing that ever since.

A white pig survives quite nicely when born to the outdoors. The pigs that come from factory farms have very little hair and very white delicate skin. An outdoor pig has a lot of hair that protects it from the sun, tougher skin and hasn’t had the brains bred out of it (behavioural instincts still in tact) It knows to cover itself in mud as a sunscreen.

“Well putting them out of their misery seems like an act of great kindness. I'll enjoy my plate of Christmas flesh all the more knowing that my carnivorous predilections have helped to create a market that saves these creatures from such torture”

That’s a rather naïve comment mhaze. Did you think yours was the last of them?

Belly
There are zero posts from pale on the aboriginal thread.

Taryn who is part aboriginal posted.

“This thread” is about intensive farming and questioning what the new PM intends to do about it.

Clearly you didnt read our web page showing our” MOUs with aboriginal councils and work projects under taken”!.

I am afraid you have shown your true self by you first post which is highly offensive and you deserve each word Dickie addressed to you and much more.

Back on topic your arrogant unbelievable ignorant comments have revealed you could not care less about cruelty to Animals.
‘
You don’t educate yourself as to what is going on.

Rudd is now the PM and it’s up to him to do the right thing.

This may come as a huge shock to you but Kevin Rudd is well aware of the conflict over intensive farming and live exports.

So unless you are suggesting that because he’s only been there one month and two days he’s not fit or ready to run this country or take responsibility? I cant see your problem.

I don’t know what religion Kevin Rudd is.

All Church leaders clearly have a duty to lead the way and speak out against cruelty to Gods Creatures is all I know.

Why don’t you try reading PF post Belly?


I am sure the pigs won’t mind how you learn the truth just so long as when you do you actually help pass out the forms to all and every person and member you know including neighbors and friends.

PF There is a area on OLO to post petitions and other information. Can you put the survey on there please?
If not perhaps we can as members. I am not sure how GY does it.

Will send to university’s and try to pay for some radio and newspaper adds- Plus print out and pay for letter box drops. Get vets to respond.

Also put on RSPCA QLD web site.
How long have we got?

Hi all
PF - thanks once again for some great information. I've been to the site, voted and circulated it. As for Belly, I don't really think we need to consider his or her comments with any seriousness; there is a dropkick in every thread. The only point I would make is that keeping pigs in such brutal, barren environments is NO DIFFERENT from puppy farming. Both are synonymous with egregious cruelty involving living, sensitive creatures and we have no right to do it to any animal. See the "What is Animal Welfare" link at www.liveexportshame.com for further information.
Dickie, as always, I am with you.
I don't think the religion to which Kevin Rudd belongs is the issue here, it is ethics and morality. He has placed in the DAFF portfolio someone who has come out fighting for the live export trade (which would suggest that he would have no problem with intensive farming either). Rudd himself expressed support for live exports earlier in the year. By replacing O'Brien with Burke, Rudd can absolve himself from honouring any commitments O'Brien made.
It doesn't even come to the "core and non-core promise" issue, Rudd promised nothing and that is precisely what he will deliver in animal welfare. That is the real hypocrisy with these so-called "Christians".
The fact that rivers of blood of innocent animals run in Australia as they do everywhere else, in the name of religion (the birth of Christ in this instance) is the biggest hypocrisy of all. People will stand in cold water all day and all night to save one whale. Why should farmed animals be so cruelly disregarded?
Nicky

PF - for your information, I just found this letter in a Tasmanian newspaper.

The Sunday Tasmanian 23 Dec 07

Congratulations to Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania for saving little Miss Celeste the piglet, and if only it could have been more. By buying intensively farmed ham and pork products, the Australian community is endorsing the most terrible cruelty to pigs, who are highly sensitive, intelligent animals, born and reared under truly appalling conditions.

For those people who deplore this cruelty, but still feel they must have meat at Christmas (or indeed any time, as the majority seem to), we believe it is important that products be properly labelled, detailing whether the animals have been kept under intensive, or "factory" farmed conditions.

Supermarkets say that they "only buy from producers who comply with the Code/s of Practice", but people do not know that these codes expressly provide for this cruelty. It is also worth noting that the term "humanely slaughtered" is an oxymoron. Perhaps the RSPCA and/or AACT should be providing this information so that consumers can make informed choices about the meat and eggs they buy, now and at any other time if they choose to buy such products.

Catherine Cooke
STOP TASMANIAN ANIMAL CRUELTY, TAS

Nicky

Right that's done PF.

Guess you won't get any answers from Ministers now until March or later. I've learnt that these dodgy characters take little notice of "questions in parliament" anyway.

However, the important part is that these questions remain in Hansard for all to see if they so choose. The other strategy is to pursue pollies of all parties and request they present various questions in parliament at different times.

Well said Nicky. My sentiments too.

And I understand it was 44 degrees in Perth on Christmas day and the highest temperature around the world for a Christmas.

Imagine the plight of the factory farmed, crated pig on a day like that!

"Because crowding creates an environment conducive to the spread of disease, pigs in factory farms are fed and sprayed with huge amounts of pesticides and antibiotics. The pesticides and antibiotics remain in their bodies and are passed on to people who eat them, creating serious human health hazards.

"Pigs and other factory-farmed animals in the US are fed 20 million pounds of antibiotics each year, and scientists believe that meat-eaters’ involuntary consumption of these drugs is giving rise to strains of bacteria that are resistant to treatment."

Ah yes.....ignorance is bliss, wouldn't you agree, mhaze? I wonder how many humans have now died as a result of bacteria which are now resistant to all known antibiotics, thanks to this cruel and unethical industry.

Already, hundreds of patients are discharged suffering Golden Staph and other resistant infections - infections they did not have when they were admitted to hospital for unrelated medical conditions.