Pig Gassing Footage Highlights Broken Animal Welfare System
The Australian Alliance for Animals says that distressing footage of the gas stunning of pigs aired on ABC TV 7.30 tonight highlights the urgent need to fix Australia’s broken animal welfare standards system.
Over 5 million pigs are slaughtered in Australia each year, with around 85% killed using carbon dioxide gas stunning.
Animal welfare scientist and Alliance for Animals’ Strategy Director, Dr Bidda Jones AM, said the pain and distress associated with gas stunning is well documented, yet the pig industry has no plans to develop alternative methods to tackle the problem.
“The industry has sat on its hands since graphic footage first emerged in 2014 revealing the intense suffering of pigs during gas stunning.
“That public revelation should have been a turning point for the industry, but when abattoirs are killing up to 400 pigs per hour, it seems it’s productivity and not pig welfare that comes first.
Dr Jones said the lack of action to address the suffering of pigs during slaughter was indicative of a broader problem with the way animal welfare science is funded and governed in Australia.
In 2022, Australian Pork Ltd received $5.5 million for Research and Development from levies and a further $6.5 million in matched government funding. The APL 2020-25 Innovation Plan makes no reference to improving welfare outcomes at slaughter but lists ‘reduced cost of production and processing’ as key area of research.
“When the slaughter of pigs results in significant suffering on a daily basis, the focus for any taxpayer-funded research should be on addressing urgent animal welfare issues, not industry cost-cutting.
“This is yet another example of why Australia needs an independent National Animal Welfare Commission, to ensure that industry productivity goals don’t continue to trump animal welfare when it comes to publicly funded investment in research and standard setting.
“The pig industry should be immediately investing in R&D on alternatives to carbon dioxide stunning and working with overseas researchers to urgently tackle this serious and insidious problem.
“It is simply unacceptable that millions of pigs are being subjected to pain and severe respiratory distress during the course of slaughter. Consumers have a right to know this is the reality of Australian pork production when deciding what kind of food they are happy to buy, said Dr Jones.
NOTES FOR MEDIA
For all media, photo and interview inquiries, please call 0426 025 329 or email media@allianceforanimals.org.au.
Dr Bidda Jones AM is available for interviews.
Dr Jones is an experienced animal welfare scientist and advocate, co-founder of the Australian Alliance for Animals and Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science. She has over 30 years’ experience developing evidence-based animal welfare policy and advocating for the interests of farmed animals, wildlife, companion animals and animals in sport.
About the Australian Alliance for Animals
The Australian Alliance for Animals is a national registered charity leading a strategic alliance of Australia’s key animal protection organisations with a combined supporter base of over 2 million people across the country. Visit our website at http://www.allianceforanimals.org.au
Learn more about our framework for creating a more balanced and independent animal welfare governance structure in Australia at www.fairgoforanimals.org.au
Dr Bidda Jones with a pig.