Agricultural News
Humane Society Says Undercover Video Documents Animal Cruelty at Wyoming Pork Facility
Tue, 08 May 2012 21:26:59 CDT
The Humane Society of the United States announced it has asked Platte County authorities to investigate allegations of animal abuse at a pork production facility in Wheatland, Wyoming.
In a press conference, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS released undercover video footage showing cruel treatment of animals allegedly taken at Wyoming Premium Farms. The production facility is owned by Denver-based Itoham America, Inc.
The video, which Pacelle said was shot in April 2012, shows workers kicking living piglets like soccer balls, swinging sick piglets in circles by their hind legs, striking mother pigs with their fists and repeatedly and forcefully kicking them as they resisted leaving their young.
In one case, a mother pig with a broken back leg endured a very heavy worker sitting and bouncing on top of her hindquarters as the pig screamed in pain. The investigator also found pigs with untreated abscesses and severe rectal and uterine prolapses.
In another case, Pacelle said, "Workers threw the just testicles of just-castrated piglet and fed them to the piglet's own mother because they thought it was fun."
Pacelle said, "We were so deeply concerned about this that we turned this footage over to the Platte County Sheriff's Office last Wednesday and presented this investigative evidence urging that office to pursue filing criminal charges."
Pacelle said his organization decided to investigate Premium Farm after receiving tips about what was allegedly happening there.
He said they sent an undercover investigator to the farm and he was hired almost immediately and was put to work with little training. The investigator worked for about a month documenting his findings.
A statement released by the National Pork Producers Council condemned the abuses captured on the video and said such treatment is "not in accord with the U.S. pork industry's best practices that are exemplified in its Pork Quality Assurance Plus program."
The statement went on to say, "Providing humane and compassionate care for their pigs at every stage of life is one of the ethical principles to which U.S. pork producers adhere. U.S. pork producers are committed to caring for animals in a way that protects their well-being. Just as it is to others, mistreatment of animals is appalling to pork producers. We do not defend and will not accept mistreatment of animals.
Pacelle said the sheriff's department is still looking into the matter and no arrests or charges have been made in the case.
You can see the HSUS video by clicking here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
