New investigation: Scandal on pig farms in Brazil
A new investigation by Animal Equality exposes evidence of mistreatment against pigs on pig farms located in Santa Catarina, the state leading pig meat production in Brazil. The investigation also reveals an audio recording in which a cooperative member of Aurora admits to using antibiotics banned by the cooperative itself. This disclosure comes at a time when Brazilian meat is facing restrictions from the European Union related to antibiotic use.
The footage captured by the organization shows:
- Animals being kicked
- Use of electric shocks on the animals
- Injured and sick animals without veterinary care
- Mutilations performed without pain relief medication
- Sows kept in gestation crates
The investigation was conducted across six farms: two connected to Aurora Coop, the third-largest pig meat producer in Brazil, one linked to Coperaguas, and three belonging to independent producers, one of whom is tied to the Cooperativa Agroindustrial dos Suinocultores Catarinenses.
According to Animal Equality, the evidence gathered across different types of farms indicates that the documented practices are not an isolated case. In 2020, the organization had already carried out the same type of investigation on pig farms and slaughterhouses in the state of Minas Gerais.
This cruelty is not isolated to Brazil, in the UK our investigations also find animals suffering and being abused. Help us end this by signing our petition to end factory farming
“We documented the exact same practices on farms of different sizes and affiliated with different companies. This demonstrates that animal suffering is not the result of isolated failures, but of a production system that systematically compromises their welfare. Animals cannot continue to pay the price for a system that prioritizes productivity over any ethical consideration,” states Dulce Ramirez, Vice President for Latin America at Animal Equality.
Although Brazil has Normative Instruction No. 113/2020 on pig welfare, its guidelines are merely advisory, meaning there is no mandatory obligation for producers to follow these welfare practices. However, pigs are protected by Article 225 of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits cruel practices against animals, and by Article 32 of the Environmental Crimes Law (Law No. 9,605/1998), which penalizes acts of mistreatment against animals.
Based on the evidence collected, Animal Equality has filed a lawsuit so that the companies and those responsible for the investigated farms are held legally accountable for the documented abuses.
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Protect pigs
Pigs are highly social animals who are often considered smarter than dogs. You can protect these intelligent animals by simply choosing plant-based alternatives.