June 19, 2008

Government vets are investigating Britain's pig farming industry after images of dead and diseased animals were passed to British newspaper The Independent.

The images, taken at farms linked to leaders of the British pig industry, has raised serious concerns about the welfare of the country's pigs amid a high-profile advertising campaign which encourages consumers to buy more expensive British pork products that claimed to have high welfare standards.

Animal welfare group Animal Aid said the images showed that farmers did not live up to the standards that were showed in the advertisements.

The images showed pigs with sores where they have rubbed against metal bars; farrowing crates; pigs with bite marks; collapsed and convulsing animals; pigs covered in excrement; filthy pens; and routine tail-docking.

Animal welfare activists are now asking for the advertisements to be banned on the basis that it is misleading. In the meantime, the British Pig Executive (BPEX) has promised to investigate the allegations.