YOUR 2022 IMPACT FOR ANIMALS

ENDING FACTORY FARMING

Cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals spend their lives trapped inside factory farms, forced to produce dairy, meat, and eggs for humans to consume. Packed in sheds, mother pigs live in crates so small they can’t turn around. Chickens live amongst their own waste, struggle to walk or stand, and suffer chronic pain. Cows endure forced impregnation and separation from their calves. And hens are confined to tiny cages, unable to spread their wings.

The animals living on factory farms can’t breathe fresh air or move freely and are all too often subject to abuse from workers without consequence.

Increasing Animal Protections in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay

Animal Equality in Brazil and Eurogroup organised a conference with key decision-makers to discuss the negative impacts of the European Union’s Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will define the trade relations between the EU and some Latin American countries and that doesn’t currently include any guidelines on the treatment of animals. 

Among the issues discussed, participants debated the need to engage civil society organisations from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay in decisions related to the FTA, such as the subsidies granted to the animal production industry, the use of natural resources by the animal agriculture industry, and topics related to One Health. This concept addresses animal health and environmental balance as essential to human health. 

Participants also urged members of the European Commission to increase transparency in animal-based products’ supply chains and to foster the transition to a plant-based food system.

Calling for an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare

Animal Equality in Germany, Italy and Spain are part of the #EUforAnimals campaign calling for the appointment of an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare. This appointment would ensure a permanent person in the EU Commission responsible for overseeing issues related to animal protection and for acting on legal violations. 

181 Members of the European Parliament from different countries and political groups support the demand. Over 175,000 European citizens have already signed the petition for the #EUforAnimals campaign.

BANNING THE FORCE-FEEDING OF DUCKS AND GEESE

You’re helping ducks and geese by ending the practice of force-feeding used to produce foie gras that not only causes a great deal of pain and stress for the animals, but also causes suffering from injuries, infections, and ruptured organs. 

We’re determined to ban force-feeding permanently. In the US, we’re working with state and local politicians to ban its sale and production. And in countries where production is already banned, we’re working to eliminate its import and sale. 

Spain Speaks Out Against Foie Gras

Over the years, Animal Equality has investigated seven foie gras farms in Spain, with one of the foie gras farms closing as a result. We’ve now launched a campaign and are calling on the Government to ban force-feeding, a cruel practice that one million ducks and geese are subjected to every year. The letter addressed to the Government and the European Commission has already received more than 80,000 signatures of support.

Spanish actress and animal rights activist Sara Sálamo lent her voice to the campaign video. Our team also held two demonstrations in Madrid, one in front of the city’s top restaurants known for its foie gras dish.

Additionally, the campaign was covered in Spanish televised media, via Informativos Telecinco news, reaching millions of people.

Protecting Ducks and Geese in the US

Animal Equality launched a campaign calling for a complete ban on the sale and production of foie gras in the US. Over 56,000 people have already signed the petition to support a nationwide ban since February.

We’re working to introduce local and state legislation to ban force-feeding and the sale of foie gras, advancing toward a permanent ban on foie gras production in the United States. President Sharon Núñez and our Legal Advocacy Counsel Sarah Hanneken held a Q&A event to answer your questions about foie gras and how to take action in our campaign to protect ducks and geese. Sarah also led two legal advocacy workshops on ways to engage with local lawmakers.

Banning Cruel Force-Feeding in Germany

Animal Equality launched a campaign to end the force-feeding of geese and ducks caused by foie gras imports into Germany. Although the practice of force-feeding is banned in the country, in 2020 alone Germany imported over 50 tons of foie gras from other countries, resulting in approximately 65,000 ducks suffering to supply that demand. Additionally, we’re calling for a complete ban on force-feeding in Europe to be introduced as part of the ongoing revision of EU legislation about animals. Our petition has already received over 28,000 signatures of support.

TAKING ACTION FOR PIGS

Animal Equality is campaigning for mother pigs on factory farms who spend their entire lives confined in cages so small they can’t even turn around or care for their young properly. The workers cut the piglets’ tails, teeth, and in some countries also their testicles without pain relief within days of being born – these are common practices in the meat industry.

Zema Slaughterhouse Owner Held Accountable for Abuse

Animal Equality in Italy filed two complaints with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Cremona against workers and owners abusing pigs at the Zema Srl slaughterhouse. The investigation we released in 2021 showed them beating pigs with sticks and shovels, slamming a pig against the wall, and ineffectively stunning them before slaughter, leaving them still conscious.
The owner of the company faced charges for his actions. After one year and two hearings, the judge of the Court of Cremona put the owner on probation. In addition, he was required to pay Animal Equality and other animal protection organisations approximately €10,000.

Investigation Update: 2018 Complaint Goes to Court

In a significant step toward holding abusers accountable, Animal Equality’s legal complaint against a pig farm in Spain and the meat company Cefusa will go to court. The independent expert witness who inspected the farm after our complaint urged the judge to close the farm due to the neglect and cruelty he witnessed. The investigation was featured in the most important television program of the country, Salvados, and showed pigs suffering from tumors, deformities, and in some instances, cannibalism. 

We will continue to expose and denounce animal abuse and bring those responsible to justice.

ELIMINATING CAGES FOR HENS

Millions of hens around the globe spend their lives in cramped wire cages where they can’t move freely or spread their wings. Due to the stress of confinement, many engage in self-mutilation and cannibalism. We’re pushing companies to eliminate the use of cages and provide enrichments like nest boxes, perches, and dust-bathing areas which can reduce their suffering. This is a critical step towards stronger protections in the future. No animal should have to spend their entire life in a cage.

Arizona Commits to Eliminate Cages

Arizona became the 10th state in the United States to ban the sale and production of eggs from caged hens in April. Animal Equality’s volunteers and advocates submitted public comments supporting the ban as part of a coalition effort with other organisations. It’s estimated that seven million hens will be impacted annually when the new ban is implemented in 2025.

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHICKENS

Chickens are kept in dim sheds, forced to live in their own waste, and bred to grow so fast that they experience painful leg deformities and heart attacks. 

We’re working to establish protections for chickens and end the breeding of chickens genetically selected to grow unnaturally large in just a few weeks, which results in painful health problems.

We are also working to end the cruel killing of new born male chicks, a practice that is common within the egg industry because male chicks are unable to produce eggs and are therefore deemed ‘worthless’ by the industry.

Italy Bans the Killing of Male Chicks in an Effort Led by Animal Equality

In 2020, Animal Equality launched the ‘Stop the Slaughter of Male Chicks’ campaign, supported by more than 110,000 people.

As a result, a historic vote has ended the mass slaughter of male chicks in Italy. By 2026, the Italian Government will have to introduce measures to ban the egg industry’s systematic killing of chicks. Between 25 and 40 million chicks’ lives will be spared annually.

First Latin American Commitment to Ban the Killing of Male Chicks

After negotiations with Animal Equality, Mantiqueira, South America’s largest egg producer, became the first Latin American company to commit to stop buying female chicks from hatcheries that kill male chicks for their inability to lay eggs and because they can’t be raised for meat. We’re working to introduce technologies in Brazil to identify the sex of the chick during the incubation period. Mantiqueira’s commitment will spare seven million male chicks from death every year.

Following Mantiqueira’s commitment, Animal Equality negotiated with three other  companies – Granja Raiar, Korin Alimentos, and Planalto Ovos – that also committed to spare more than 500,000 chicks a year.

The Cruelty of Fast Growing Chicken Breeds Exposed

Animal Equality investigators inspected a fast-growing chicken farm in Italy. These chickens are bred to grow 400% faster than slower-growing birds and suffer from numerous health conditions like heart attacks and pneumonia. Because of their unnatural size, some chicks cannot walk or stand up, and their bones break easily. 

Our investigators also documented filth, overcrowding, serious diseases, and dozens of dead chickens on the factory farm. Currently, 99% of chickens raised for human consumption have been genetically selected to grow as fast as possible, and these chickens endure disastrous repercussions on their health.

We’re demanding that the Italian Government, the Minister of Health, and the Minister for Agricultural Policies prohibit breeding genetically selected animals to grow so large and fast that they spend their entire lives suffering so extremely. 

We have also reported all 27 EU member states to the European Commission, asking it to verify that the breeding of fast-growing broiler chickens is in complete contrast to European legislation protecting animals on farms and Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty, which recognises animals as ‘sentient beings’.

Lawsuit Filed Against Large Chicken Producer For Cruelty

Animal Equality filed a lawsuit against a Foster Farms hatchery in California. Legal action was taken when local law enforcement failed to respond to our 2021 undercover investigation, which revealed baby chicks being crushed, drowned, and mutilated. The hatchery breeds roughly 3.3 million chicks for Foster Farms weekly. 

We’re seeking a court order prohibiting Foster Farms from continuing unlawful business practices and requiring the company to establish policies and procedures that protect the baby chicks at the hatchery investigated from unnecessary injury, suffering, and death.

Carrefour Spain joins the European Chicken Commitment

Carrefour Spain has announced its adherence to the European Chicken Commitment, following a joint effort between Animal Equality and other organisations.

The supermarket chain has committed to meet the welfare requirements of the European Chicken Commitment in its fresh, frozen and products containing more than 50% chicken ingredients from its own brands by 2026. This decision will eliminate some of the worst forms of suffering for 38 million chickens per year.

Eliminating Male Chick Suffering in Germany

Animal Equality launched a campaign to campaign for the use of in-ovo-sexing of male chicks in Germany which allows the sex of a chick to be identified prior to hatching. In-ovo-sexing effectively prevents chick suffering, as it could spare up to 42 million chicks per year from being born into factory farms.

TAKING ACTION FOR ANIMALS IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Because of improper stunning methods, cows, pigs, and lambs are often killed while still conscious. Chickens, hens, turkeys, and other birds are passed through an ineffective electrical water-bath stunning system, causing hundreds of millions of chickens to be scalded alive yearly. 
Through our investigations, we’re raising public awareness about practices used in slaughterhouses worldwide and campaigning to spare these animals from the worst forms of suffering.

Stopping the Self Regulation of Slaughterhouses in Brazil

Animal Equality launched a campaign against the so-called ‘Livestock’s Self-Control Bill’ introduced by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. The Bill aims to reduce Government oversight inside the food industry and will directly affect how slaughterhouses treat animals. We investigated three slaughterhouses to demonstrate how animals already suffer within the food supply chain despite regulation. 

Animal Equality, other animal protection organisations, and the Association of Inspectors sent three open letters to the Senate. Following this action and extensive media coverage, 27 Senators filed a demand for the Bill to be voted on in a plenary session. 

On 15th September, Animal Equality organised a public hearing at São Paulo’s State Assembly alongside several animal, environmental, and human health protection organisations to discuss concerns. The discussion will serve as the basis for an official letter that will be sent to senators highlighting all of the damage the new law will bring to animals, the environment, and the Brazilian population.

Hidalgo Becomes the First State in Mexico to Protect Animals in Farms

As a result of our investigations, the Congress of the State of Hidalgo has unanimously approved an initiative to modify the Law for the Protection and Dignified Treatment of Animals and the Criminal Code. This makes Hidalgo the first state in Mexico to dedicate an entire chapter of a law on minimum standards for animals in farms. In addition, it will criminalise animal cruelty in slaughterhouses.

The killing of conscious animals and the operation of unregulated slaughterhouses will be considered a crime and result in sentences of up to four years in prison and fines. These reforms now add protections for nearly 50 million pigs, cows, chickens, hens, lambs, and other animals raised for human consumption.

Animal Equality Launches the Most Extensive Slaughterhouse Investigation

Animal Equality released the most extensive investigation completed by an organisation documenting the emotional and physical suffering of cows, pigs, and sheep in more than 30 slaughterhouses in 13 states in Mexico over six years.

Our investigators found employees mishandling animals with electrical devices, hitting, kicking, and yelling, and animals showing signs of distress. We also exposed cows and pigs still conscious during slaughter due to ineffective stunning methods. The investigation was covered by some of the most far-reaching and recognised media outlets in the country.

Animal Equality is working on various legal initiatives to recognise animals with complex nervous systems as sentient beings whose welfare must be protected by the law.

ENDING THE ABUSE OF COWS USED FOR DAIRY

Cows used for dairy products suffer from forced impregnation and continued separation from their newborn calves throughout their lives before being sent to slaughter. In many countries, their calves will live alone in a small hut where they’re fed a milk-replacer diet. Some of the female calves will be reared to replace the mothers who die on farm or at slaughter, and in many countries their newly-developed horns are burnt off without painkillers. The remaining calves, mostly males, will be sold to be reared for meat or directly slaughtered for veal.

Our investigations have uncovered abuse carried out by workers and managers in dairy farms, such as punching and kicking animals in the face and stomach. We’ll continue to raise awareness amongst the public and advocate for new legislation that holds abusers accountable.

Dairy Investigation Watched by Millions on the BBC

Animal Equality released an investigation inside Madox Farm, a dairy farm in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Our investigator documented workers kicking and punching cows in the face and stomach, twisting their tails, and hitting them with metal shovels. In one instance, a pregnant cow was left to suffer and die after her baby died inside of her. At the time of filming, the farm supplied milk to Freshways, the UK’s largest dairy processor, whose products are distributed to major companies. The footage aired on BBC One’s Panorama, one of the country’s biggest television programs, and was seen by millions of viewers. 

The response was huge, with hundreds of people pledging publicly to stop drinking dairy. Data gathered from the popular dating app Veggly show that 35% of the UK’s ‘vegetarian’ users have switched to ‘vegan’ days after the investigation aired. There has also been a 40% increase in new vegan users.

Alongside the investigation, we launched a petition calling for a licensing system to be put in place for farms and slaughterhouses. This will only allow farms that successfully pass regular and thorough inspections to operate. The petition has been signed by over 67,000 people so far.

Animal Cruelty Against Buffalo in India Denounced

Animal Equality in India released an undercover investigation outside a dairy farm in Paglahat Village near Kolkata. The investigation revealed workers abusing a female buffalo as they attempted to load her onto a transport truck. The images captured showed them beating and twisting her tail to cause pain, violently and repeatedly pushing a stick into her genitals, causing bleeding wounds, and pouring water over her nose and mouth to make her feel like she was drowning. 

Animal Equality submitted evidence of this incident to the Animal Welfare Board of India, which filed a complaint with the Kolkata Police. Animal Equality has denounced these crimes and is calling for the workers to be prosecuted.

Actress Miriam Margolyes Asks Consumers to Ditch Dairy

Award-winning British-Australian actress Miriam Margoyles has joined Animal Equality’s campaign to help cows and calves who suffer in the dairy industry. Launched via The Independent, it calls on the UK Government to move subsidies away from the dairy industry and towards plant-based alternatives like oat milk and soy milk, and to support farmers in making the transition.

Promoting Plant-Based Cheese and Milk to Save Cows

Animal Equality Mexico launched a Love Veg campaign to save cows and calves by informing consumers of the living conditions of these animals in the dairy industry and inviting them to replace cow milk and cheese with plant-based alternatives. The recipe book, named ‘My first vegan cheeses’, includes 29 dairy-free recipes and has been downloaded by more than 60,000 people since its launch in May.

With this and other campaigns, Love Veg has impacted more than 330,000 animals in Mexico this year.In Mexico, more than two million cows are exploited for their milk every year.

PROTECTING FISH

Millions of fish live tightly-packed inside aquatic factory farms with high levels of ammonia and nitrates. They’re susceptible to bacterial infections and parasitic infestations that feed on their gills, organs, and blood. There are few legal protections for fish and around the world most are killed by suffocation when left out of the water, electrocution, beating, or decapitation.

We’re fighting to reduce the extreme suffering of farmed fish. We’ll continue to investigate and document the conditions they endure inside fish farms and slaughterhouses to eliminate consumer deception around ‘humanely-farmed fish.’

Routine Inspections of Fish Slaughterhouses Introduced In Scotland

The Scottish Government has introduced mandatory inspections in salmon slaughterhouses following lobbying from Animal Equality and others, and after Animal Equality’s investigation into a fish slaughterhouse operated by The Scottish Salmon Company that uncovered fish having their gills cut while still conscious, being clubbed by workers and being left to suffocate. This has the potential to impact an estimated 45 million animals annually.

Animal Equality is now pushing for mandatory CCTV surveillance cameras in all fish abattoirs and for the footage to be made available to the public for scrutiny. Our legal advocacy campaign has garnered extensive media coverage in mainstream publications, including The Times and The Guardian.

PROMOTING A PLANT-BASED DIET

Animal Equality advocates for a world in which animals are no longer farmed and exploited for human consumption. As a result, we encourage diet change in all of our campaigns and publications. We urge our supporters and subscribers to transition to a plant-based diet and direct consumers to our Love Veg website, which contains easy recipes and helpful tips on transitioning to inspire people to give plant-based foods a try.

In Italy, Animal Equality published the Save a Lamb Campaign before the Easter holiday. We developed a heartwarming video filmed at an animal sanctuary with Bruno Bozzetto, an Italian cartoonist and film director, and Andrea Capodanno, a famous vegan influencer with over 200k followers, to encourage people to adopt a plant-based diet and show them how affectionate and sociable lambs are.

The film also includes a conversation between Bozzetto and Capodanno about how easy it is to recreate traditions and make them vegan. It was covered by key Italian media such as la Repubblica and HuffPost Italia.

And in Spain, we launched a series of publications to encourage Spaniards to drop dairy and choose delicious dairy-free alternatives.

Our Love Veg Program

Love Veg is Animal Equality’s signature plant-based program, inspiring millions worldwide to leave animals off their plates.

India: Celebrities Endorse the 21-Day Plant-Powered Challenge

In India, several celebrities have joined Animal Equality to promote plant-based foods, including Aaditi Pohankar and Vaarun Bhagat. They also promoted a 21 day plant-powered challenge.

Mexico: Getting Started Guidance

Since launching Love Veg Mexico in 2015 (previously named Discover Your Food), more than one million people have joined us. We welcome everyone with an introductory series of emails and continue to share content for an entire year to provide our readers with the knowledge and support needed to transition to a plant-based lifestyle. 

Starting in 2021, Love Veg began calculating the number of animals saved by the project based on the consumption per capita and the 12 months we engaged this audience. Since tracking this metric, Animal Equality has spared 393,620 animals with Love Veg Mexico.

Our work has been featured in Mimosa Magazine, Quadratin México, Tijuana Informativo, Hoja de Ruta Digital, and Crónica Jalisco.

TAKE ACTION

None of these results are possible without your support and generous donations. Together, we’re building a better world for animals – but there’s still more work to be done. Join Animal Equality today to help animals and keep pushing progress forward.