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Viva!
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3 August 2001 The National Farmers’ Union has leapt to the defence of an intensive pig farm which is the focus of a major demonstration this Saturday, August 4th, by describing its conditions as, "the best in the world". Viva! is launching a campaign against Rynehill Farm in Kingham, Oxfordshire after filming at the farm four times. The initial video footage shows overcrowded conditions and pigs covered from head to toe in their own excreta. The sleeping area is concrete and devoid of all bedding. Footage taken at the farm two weeks ago shows that nothing appears to have changed. The animals and the concrete floors remain covered in excreta. The film shows lame, emaciated animals and a dead pig who has been left lying outside the farm. 4,500 pigs are kept at Rynehill Farm,
which is part of the quality assurance scheme Farm Assured British Pigs
(FAB pigs). The scheme gave the farm a clean bill of health yesterday.
The government also claims to have carried out a veterinary inspection
and to have found ‘no major welfare problems’. "Pigs are incredibly intelligent animals and to keep them crammed together in sheds with no environmental enrichment - not even a strand of straw - is absolutely barbaric. She continues, "Promotional
literature for FAB pigs only shows free range animals. Consumers who buy
meat accredited by this scheme are deceived into thinking they are supporting
‘high welfare standards’ when in fact they are supporting factory farming
at its worst." More information from Becky Smith
on 0117 944 1000. Note to Editors
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