ANIMAL rights protesters are demanding the Scottish Government ban the use of “enriched cages” for chickens and “farrowing crates” for pigs.
OneKind says the cages force millions of animals in Scotland to spend their lives confined to a tiny space. The conventional battery cage system for hens was banned in Europe in 2012 and replaced by the so-called enriched cages.
These are around 20% bigger than the previous boxes, and have boxes, litter, perch space and some scratching materials.
According to the charity, approximately two million hens in Scotland are still being kept in the cages “which extremely limit their natural behaviour preventing them from being able to run, fly, or even experience fresh air and sunlight”.
Quality Meat Scotland’s assurance scheme permits the use of farrowing crates – long, narrow boxes – to hold pregnant pigs from a week before their due date until their piglets are weaned at around three to four weeks. Ostensibly, the crates are used to stop sows from accidentally rolling onto their young, and crushing them. But, the charity says, it also stops the pig being able to walk or even turn around.
OneKind’s director Bob Elliot said:“Our farm animals need to walk, run, fly and peck and forage outdoors. Yet millions of sentient animals in Scotland still spend
their lives, or important parts of their lives, confined in cages where they are unable to carry out these natural behaviours.”
The charity launched a new petition calling for a ban on the use of the enriched cages and farrowing crates in Scotland.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to the highest possible welfare standards for animals, including pigs and laying hens, and expect all EU and Scottish legislation and rules on pig welfare and egg production to be adhered to. We recognise the welfare concerns that some people have about confining sows in farrowing crates and caged egg production. The UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee has previously called for pig farmers to move towards more commercially viable crate-free farrowing systems, and we will continue to engage with the industry on this.”
“We are committed to upholding and seeking improvements to EU animal welfare legislation and enforcement where possible in order to benefit animals right across the EU and ensure a level playing field for producers.”
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