Stop the torment

They are highly intelligent animals that are, in essence, tortured during the duration of their breeding lives. Female pigs, social and aware, are held in extreme confinement during all but a few weeks around the birth of their piglets. Since most are impregnated shortly after their four-month gestation ends, the tragic routine continues, all in the name of pork production at the lowest possible cost. To call it inhumane is an understatement.

Worldwide, pressure on pork producers has changed legislation, forcing farmers throughout the European Union and Australia, for example, to dramatically reduce the amount of time breeding sows are stuffed into tiny cages. The stress the pigs suffer is intense enough that they develop behavioural problems, biting the metal bars until their mouths bleed. As Sayara Thurston of Humane Society International/Canada says, “they are basically driven insane.” Think about that next time you bite into barbecued ribs.

This week, Canada has the opportunity to change its rules and provide the sows that give birth to the pigs we eat something closer to humane treatment.

The National Farm Animal Care Council meets in Ottawa to work on a draft report that calls for stricter rules — even if the suggestions don’t go far enough. The more humane rules allow farmers to place sows (who are bred three times a year) in severe confinement for 35 days of each pregnancy. With roughly three pregnancies each year, that’s still too much time spent in misery.

The council should not acquiesce to the demands of producers who want the draft rules relaxed to “recommend” instead of “require” alternative living spaces. Sows should be allowed to live in small pens where they can have some freedom of movement. It’s not running through the daisies, but at least they are not tormented. The council should look to the leadership provided by the biggest Canadian food retailers, including Loblaw, Safeway and Metro. They have announced a plan to eventually purchase pork only from suppliers that do away with gestation crates. Tim Hortons Inc. has taken similar steps in response to consumer demand.

As other jurisdictions have shown, there is no need for sows to be subjected to agony in the name of efficient food production. Pork may be delicious, but consuming it need not be cruel.

Canada has a chance to make life more tolerable for sows