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Home > Get involved > Issues - take action > Farm animals
Farm animals
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Battery hens |
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Broiler chickens |
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Dairy
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Mulesing |
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Pigs
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Live export |
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Humane food
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Battery hens
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Most of Australia’s eggs are produced in cage or battery systems, which are a cheap and efficient way to produce a high quantity of eggs. Sadly though, this efficiency comes at the cost of hen welfare.
A battery hen lives in a cage for her entire life, confined to a wire floor space the size of an A4 piece of paper. Living in such a small space, this hen is unable to stretch her wings which eventually causes her crippling and painful injuries and deformities to her feet and legs. This hen is also unable to express important natural behaviours such as perching, preening, scratching in the dirt, dust-bathing or laying eggs in seclusion.
A battery hen can also suffer from painful de-feathering as her feathers rub painfully against the wire enclosure. With no exercise, a battery hen will develop weak and brittle bones and is at a high risk of osteoporosis. More than 56% of caged hens suffer from painful fractures.
De-beaking
When stressed and crowded, hens peck at each
other. To avoid this some producers cut off one third of the hen's beak
with a hot wire guillotine. This is a major animal welfare concern as
de-beaking causes severe pain. The nerves in the hen's beak stump also remain
active and the hen suffers for months afterwards and she may experience difficulty eating.
Protecting the welfare of hens
Only egg producers meeting very high welfare standards are able to use the RSPCA Approved Farming logo on their eggs. Eggs produced in battery facilities do not meet these high standards due to their cruel practices and living conditions.
The RSPCA works tirelessly to influence consumers to support ethical producers of eggs. We have also successfully campaigned in Victoria for clear labeling so consumers can
confidently distinguish between cage eggs, barn-laid eggs, or free-range
egg.
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Take action
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Sign up to receive updates
Show you care for hens and sign up to receive updates on our battery hen campaign here.
Approved Farming Scheme
Look for the RSPCA's 'Paw of Approval' when you next shop at Coles supermarket.
For more information, visit
our humane food page.
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Broiler chickens
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Every year in Australia more than 320 million chickens are raised for meat production. Broiler chickens are essentially baby birds with the bodies of adults. These birds have developed from years of selective breeding and their development is achieved with the addition of growth stimulants to feed.
A typical broiler facility may house 300,000 birds at a time with 40,000 - 60,000 birds living on each shed floor.
Welfare concerns
The accelerated growth rates for these chickens causes leg and joint problems.
In some cases their legs cannot support their body weight and the chickens starve or dehydrate as they are unable to access the automated feed and water systems found in the sheds.
These birds are not afforded the Five Freedoms, including the inability to express normal behaviour. Overcrowding is a major problem in these intensive facilities as each bird has the equivalent of 500 square centimeters floor space, less than the size of an A4 page. The sheds are dimmed to keep the birds as inactive as possible so that food conversion is maximised. The birds’ droppings are not cleaned away over the chickens’ five to seven week lifespan. The air often becomes polluted with ammonia, dust, bacteria and fungal spores which cause health problems.
The RSPCA works tirelessly to encourage consumers to source their chicken from ethical suppliers. Consumers looking for the RSPCA Paw of Approval will rest assured that their chickens are produced in facilities upholding better welfare standards. |
Take action
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Approved Farming Scheme
Look for the RSPCA's 'Paw of Approval' when you next shop.
For more information, visit
our humane food page.
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Dairy industry
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Humans often underestimate the intelligence of cows. Cows are highly social animals who can recognise more than 100 different individuals and form strong, lifelong bonds with their families and other herd members.
Bobby calves
Bobby calves are the sad waste product of the dairy industry. Like all mammals, cows only produce milk to feed their babies. After a cow gives birth her calf is usually taken away within 12-24 hours. This causes great distress to both the calf and the mother.
Just like humans and many other mammals, cows have a strong bond between mother and baby. Cows have been known to bellow for days after their calves have been taken away. Many of these calves are induced prematurely as a way of keeping milking herds on a uniform milk production cycle. The male calves are usually separated from their mothers at a little more than a day old. At around four days old these calves are then transported to an abattoir to be slaughtered for veal. Around one million of these calves, the sad waste products of the dairy industry, are killed every year in Australia.
The dairy industry recently proposed a maximum time off feed for bobby calves of 30 hours. This proposal was taken to the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) who failed to reach a resolution and did not set legal protections for bobby calves. The dairy industry is voluntarily committing to a 30 hour maximum time period between feeds for transport of bobby calves to slaughter. However, the RSPCA believes that 30 hours off feed is far too long as the welfare of bobby calves begins to deteriorate after 24 hours off feed. Europe has a 10 hour off feed limit, while the UK and Canada have 12 hour off feed limits.
Milk production
As a result of selective breeding and genetic
manipulation, the modern dairy cow produces 10 times more milk than a
calf would need. This creates a great pressure on the cows’ udders and
many cows suffer from painful conditions such as stretched or torn
ligaments and mastitis, a painful infection of the teat and udder.
Disbudding
Young female calves are usually ‘disbudded’
to prevent them from growing horns. This is done by applying heat
cauterization to the horn buds or by using a knife to cut off the tissue
of the horn bud. This procedure is done with out pain relief while the
young cow is restrained in a crush.
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Take action
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Approved Farming Scheme
The
RSPCA Paw of Approval is only found on products that have come from
animals that are part of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.
If you see the paw on eggs, pork or
chicken, you can be assured of a high standard of animal welfare.
Learn More
To learn more about what the RSPCA Australia is doing on dairy welfare, click here.
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Mulesing
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Most Australian sheep are subjected to mulesing. Merino sheep have woolly wrinkles and folds in their skin which become moist with urine and contaminated with faeces around the tail and breech area. Flystrike occurs when blowflies lay eggs on this moist area and the resulting maggots eat away at the flesh of the animal.
Mulesing involves cutting skin and flesh from sheep's backsides without anesthetic. Mulesed lambs experience high levels of pain and distress not only during the mulesing procedure, but for long periods afterwards. Lambs’ cortisol and beta-endorphin levels, indicators of stress, escalate when they are mulesed and are elevated for days. Mulesed lambs can exhibit abnormal, stress-related behaviours for up to 100 days following the procedure.
Mulesing is used because it is cheaper and easier for producers than other forms of management such as good breeding, inspection and crutching. While flystrike is a terrible affliction for sheep, mulesing is a cruel solution. Mulesing should be the last option farmers choose to control flystrike and only when the risk of flystrike is very high.
Alternatives to mulesing
There are humane alternatives to mulesing that do not cause suffering or distress:
Breeding
Breeding is the only long-term solution to
flystrike. Genetic traits such as no wrinkles around the breech and
tail, susceptibility to diarrhoea and worms and the amount of wax and
moisture in the fleece can be bred out of merino flocks. Results of
breeding trials over many years are positive and the work is being
scaled up.
Clips
Clips give a result like mulesing, but without
an open wound and with significantly less pain. They prevent blood flow
to the skin that would be removed by mulesing. This skin and the clips
fall off within a couple of weeks leaving a bare area around the lamb’s
breech and tail. Trials with clips are progressing well. Some producers
report they feel confident they could stop mulesing and use clips to
control flystrike.
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Information
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Approved Farming Scheme
The
RSPCA Paw of Approval is only found on products that have come from
animals that are part of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.
If you see the paw on eggs, pork or
chicken, you can be assured of a high standard of animal welfare.
Learn More
To learn more about what the RSPCA Australia is doing on mulesing, click here. |
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Pig Welfare
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Introduction
Pigs
are intelligent, social animals, with a complex range of behaviours and
needs. The RSPCA believe that pigs should have the freedom to
socialise, explore and root in straw or dirt and to live a life free
from cruelty. In conventional pig farming pigs are often subjected to
painful husbandry procedures like tail docking, surgical castration and
teeth clipping without anaesthetic. However, the biggest welfare problem
facing Australian pigs is intensive confinement in sow stalls and
farrowing crates.
Sow Stalls and Farrowing Crates
A sow stall is a metal-barred crate
that houses a single sow for all or part of her 16-week pregnancy. Sows are confined from 8-10 months of age, day and night, with little room to stand or lie down.The
floor of the stall is usually concrete, with a slat-covered trench for
manure at the rear.
When a pregnant sow is ready to give birth, she is transferred a few days before to a very small farrowing crate that is designed to separate a mother from her piglets so she does not crush them. The sow is confined in the crate until the piglets
are weaned. The movement of the sow is extremely restricted in these crates.
Sow stalls do not provide nesting or bedding
material for the pregnant sow, which results in stress and frustration.
Pigs are very social animals and preventing them from interacting with
other pigs results in frustration and distressed behaviors such as head
swaying and biting the metal bars. Because movement is severely
restricted in sow stalls, the lack of exercise often leads to reduced
muscle and bone strength and difficulty in standing up or lying down.
Alternatives to Sow Stalls and Farrowing Crates
Producers
have long argued the stalls are necessary to control sows that become
aggressive during pregnancy. But pregnant sows can be held successfully
in groups provided that they are properly managed, have sufficient space
and the ability to avoid aggressive encounters.
There are a
number of experimental designs that have adapted the traditional
farrowing crate to provide bedding and more flexibility and movement for
the sow, while maintaining a high level of protection for the piglets.
There are also extensive systems in use where farrowing takes place in
individual huts with bedding, where the sow is free to move around and
go in and out of the hut.
The RSPCA commends Coles Supermarkets on their commitment to stop stocking pork produced from pigs confined to sow stalls, from 2014. As a major retailer, Coles move towards sow stall-free pork sends the strongest signal yet that there is simply no place for sow stalls in the future of Australian pig farming. To have a meaningful impact on pig welfare we need humane pork products on every supermarket shelf across the country.
Recent Updates
In response to consumer pressure, Tasmania’s Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green announced in June 2010 that sow stalls will be banned in Tasmania; stalls are being phased out with a total ban becoming effective in 2017.
In Victoria, no such moves to ban sow stalls have been made, although at the national level, a non-binding agreement by members of the Australian pork industry was reached in November 2010 to voluntarily phase out sow stall use by 2017.
In other updates, in November 2011 PrimeSafe, the
Victorian Government body responsible for regulating abattoirs, actioned
the immediate closure of the LE Giles abattoir in Gippsland. Their
license to operate was cancelled permanently. This occurred after video
footage taken by Animals Australia showed deliberate cruelty towards the
pigs processed at that facility. The footage revealed abattoir workers
were in breach of the model code of practice for the welfare of animals,
and had enacted deliberate cruelty through use of electric stunning to
pigs eyes and noses. Whilst this cruelty was illegal, the auditing
processes had failed to detect this inconsistency. RSPCA Victoria
understands that the Department of Primary Industries has since launched
a full investigation into the slaughter practices at this particular
facility, and the auditing processes which allowed it to occur.
RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme
As consumers learn more about how their food is produced and about the animals that provide it, demand for higher welfare pork continues to gain support in the mainstream. We know that two thirds of Australians don’t like sow stalls and prefer to buy pork from humane farming systems. To this end, the RSPCA promotes humane food nationally via the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.
This involves working primary producers to implement higher standards of animal welfare, and is just one of the ways that the RSPCA promotes higher standards of farm animal welfare. If you see the RSPCA logo on a carton of eggs, packet of pork, chicken or turkey when shopping, you can be assured that product supports animal welfare. Find where to purchase RSPCA approved products.
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Information
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Approved Farming Scheme
The
RSPCA Paw of Approval is only found on products that have come from
animals that are part of the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme.
If you see the paw on eggs, pork or
chicken, you can be assured of a high standard of animal welfare.
Learn More
To learn more about what the RSPCA Australia is doing to get sows out of stalls, click here
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Live export
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The live export trade is an industry where millions of Australian
animals are exported live to other countries for slaughter. Australian
cattle, sheep and goats are sent all over the world, ending up in
countries where local laws do not protect them.
In May 2011, the story broke that Australia's
live export trade had grossly ignored livestock welfare of cattle sent
to Indonesia.
The cruelest trade Australia has ever known
Animals transported overseas via
live export face grossly inadequate standards of welfare. The major animal welfare concerns include stress, injuries and death caused by:
- mixed social groups;
- heat stress;
- inappetance (not eating);
- ammonia;
- noise;
- vibration;
- lighting;
- space;
- dust;
- sea sickness;
- death
Those
that do survive the journey are subjected to brutal and cruel handling,
transport and methods of slaughter.
To find our more about this issue and the RSPCA's campaign to ban all live export, visit the ban live export website.
National Rallies
On Sunday 14 August, the RSPCA and Animals Australia hosted rallies around the country in support of legislation to end live animal export.
The Melbourne rally took place on the steps of Parliament House (Spring Street Melbourne) and featured Lyn White from Animals Australia, Dr Hugh Wirth from RSPCA Victoria and Adam Bandt from the Australian Greens.
Legislation
On Thursday 18 September, two Bills were presented to Federal Parliament proposing a phase out the live export trade and a transition towards the chilled meat only trade. Many caring MPs spoke out against cruel live export trade, but tragically, Julia Gillard's refusal to allow them a conscience vote meant that the Bills to end live exports were voted down.
But all is not lost — it is clear that despite the result, our strategy is working. Never before has animal welfare been more politicised. it is only a matter of time before Australia reaches a tipping point where live export is no longer acceptable. From the strong support throughout the campaign to ban on live exports, Andrew Wilkie and The Australian Greens announced that they will reintroduce legislation on live export in the future.
In the meantime, we will continue to work to apply pressure to the Government and industry to ensure that we bring the suffering they are responsible for to the attention of the public and politicians.
Show your support
Please continue show your support and attend to help us to end this cruel trade. For more information, visit BanLiveExport.com.
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Take Action on Live Exports
Make sure your opinion is heard on the issue of live animal exports.
To write to Prime Minister Gillard, or the Minister for Agriculture Jo Ludwig, visit
W: www.banliveexport.com
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Humane food
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The RSPCA works with farmers, retailers and consumers on a range of
exciting humane initiatives. We actively promote animal welfare products through the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme and Choose Wisely.
Approved Farming Scheme
The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme works closely with farmers to make a positive impact on the lives of farm production animals.
To gain RSPCA
Approval, farms must provide an environment that meets the animal’s
behavioural and physiological needs. Eligible farmers are only approved if they are
able to meet the high standards of welfare required and farms are
regularly assessed by the RSPCA to ensure these conditions are
maintained on farm.
Visit the national RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme website for more information.
Choose Wisely
Do you know a café or restaurant that uses humane food? Can you tell
them about Choose Wisely? Or, are you a business owner interested in
supporting humane food? As savvy consumers become more
ethically and environmentally aware, businesses stand to gain more
business and a point of difference from competitors by supporting humane
food.
All businesses registered with our Choose Wisely initiative are listed on the national Choose Wisely website. RSPCA
Victoria will also encourage our wide network of supporters, as well as
26,000+ facebook fans and local media to promote and support businesses
that Choose Wisely.
Visit the national RSPCA Choose Wisely website for more information.
Shop
Next time you’re shopping remember to purchase RSPCA Approved products. Eggs and meat approved under the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme have been produced humanely and you''ll be helping the improve the lives of Australian farm animals.
RSPCA Approved products are available at supermarkets and butchers. You’ll
know you’re buying a RSPCA approved product when you see the RSPCA 'Paw
of Approval' (see right).
If you see the RSPCA logo on a carton of eggs, packet of pork, chicken
or turkey, you can be assured that animals involved in the production of
these products were raised under high animal welfare standards. These include:
- EGGS – Coles Barn Laid
- PORK – Otway Pork
- PORK – KR Castlemaine, available in selected Coles stores in NSW and SA
- CHICKEN – Coles Bendigo Valley
Visit the national RSPCA Shop Humane website for more information
Recent developments
We're pleased to report that Woolworths has decreased the amount of cage egg brands stocked on their shelves from 20 down to 11, due to consumer preference and their written concerns on animal safety. This demonstrates that Australia's leading organisations will support humane food if there is enough consumer demand. Please make sure you speak with your local supermarket manager or contact their head office in regards to humane food.
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Information
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Approved Farming Scheme
The RSPCA Paw of Approval is only
found on products that have come from animals that are part of the RSPCA
Approved Farming Scheme.
If you see the paw on eggs, pork or chicken, you can be assured of a high standard of animal welfare.
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