Essere Animali has released new appalling footage showing instances of brutal violence on pigs reared for Parma Ham production. The images, whose vision is not recommended to the most sensitive, were filmed with a hidden camera at the breeding farm near Ancona (Italy).

The video shows the agony of a sow bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer, in clear violation of the European provisions on the emergency killing of sick animals. Electric prods, which should be a last resort when handling animals, are constantly used by the farm staff to move pigs, even on a pregnant sow and on defenseless animals, unable to move.

Smaller piglets are kicked, grabbed by the ears and thrown around. A sow is seen being washed with a high pressure cleaner pointed directly at her muzzle. The operator also filmed hundreds of dead piglets left outdoors and accumulating in buckets, in contempt of basic hygiene rules.

Justice must take its course, which we hope will be short. But in the face of these shameful images, the institutions must send a signal. We ask the Italian competent authorities to withdraw this farm’s authorisation to operate and that the responsible persons are interdicted from exercising this type the activity ever again. In fact, still today, people who are condemned for animal cruelty in Italy can still rear or work with animals.

It is not the first time that Essere Animali reports abuses and violence committed on pigs destined to become Parma Ham. You can find more information on their previous investigation here.