Pigs
Pigs are extraordinarily intelligent beings, capable of complex problem-solving and forming deep social relationships. In their natural state, they are careful about cleanliness, instinctively creating separate spaces for sleeping and waste. Yet, factory farming strips pigs of their autonomy and dignity, confining them in cramped, filthy environments that deny every aspect of their natural behavior. Such conditions are not only inhumane but unjustifiable, underscoring the urgent need to end these exploitative systems and recognize pigs’ right to live free from harm and exploitation.
Forced Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination is a common practice in pig farming, yet it treats these thoughtful and sensitive animals as mere production units, overlooking their unique worth and individuality. Sows are repeatedly subjected to this process until their bodies are worn out, at which point they are sent to slaughter.
A Life Spent Confined and Frustrated
Mother pigs, or sows, are subjected to relentless confinement within gestation and farrowing crates, prevented from exhibiting even the most fundamental expressions of intelligence, autonomy, and maternal care. Such systematic deprivation causes profound psychological distress—including depression, frustration, and stereotypic behaviors.
Mutilations to Piglets
On factory farms, newborn piglets endure painful procedures such as teeth clipping and tail docking, often without anesthesia, to prevent injuries in overcrowded conditions. Tragically, they are also separated from their mothers at a very young age, depriving both piglets and sows of essential bonding and natural nurturing behaviors.
Numbers are a lot
In 2023 alone, approximately 128 million pigs were slaughtered in the United States—a staggering number that exceeds the combined populations of California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Michigan. Most of these pigs are just months old, their lives cut short before they have a chance to experience even a fraction of their natural lifespan.
