News | Eurogroup for Animals

Pigs are farmed in their millions across Europe each year, a huge number of them in a living nightmare. Recent investigations by our members LAV and AnimaNaturalis, as well as Oikeutta Eläimille, highlight some of the awful conditions pigs are forced to face in industrial systems, pointing to an urgent need for the European Commission to create much stronger rules for their welfare.

No Animal Left Behind: the secret suffering of pigs on factory farms

Did you know over 240 million pigs are farmed in Europe? Trapped in bleak and unhygienic factory farms, they are forced to face a number of awful scenarios. The European Commission has the power to help pigs immensely by creating specific rules for their welfare in the ongoing revision to the animal welfare legislation.

No Animal Left Behind: why do farmed pigs need specific laws to protect their welfare?

A new investigation from GAIA reveals how painful piglet castration really is. Every year millions of piglets are castrated in Flanders (Belgium) without anaesthesia, and GAIA is launching a petition to stop this practice.

New images from GAIA: millions of piglets castrated in Flanders without anaesthesia

Every month, we interview one of our member organisations about their work, main battles and achievements for animals. This month we have the pleasure to interview Adrienne Bonnet, Head of Campaign, Advocacy & Legal department at Welfarm.

Have you met Welfarm?

Welfarm is calling for a ban on the castration of piglets in its new campaign launched on November 4th in Paris.

Welfarm is calling for a ban on the castration of piglets

19 November 2021

In France, many male piglets are castrated to prevent the development of an unpleasant odour (known as “boar smell”) that may occur when the meat of some carcasses is first cooked. Although this practice is decreasing, it remains problematic: it is extremely painful and stressful for the animal.

The Bigard group refuses alternatives to castration of piglets

Our French member L214 reveals new shocking images shot in a pig farm located in Auvergne. This investigation aims to draw the attention of French MPs to the cruel reality of intensive breeding on the same day a public discussion on a proposed law on the animal condition is taking place in the French National Assembly.

New horror images in an intensive pig farm in France

Take home message from the IPEMA webinar: The process of moving towards alternatives to surgical castration is irreversible, even if the solutions applied within Europe differ.

Entire male pigs or immunocastration replace piglet castration: IPEMA provides solutions

21 September 2020

The European Parliamentary Research Services recently published a comprehensive briefing on the EU pig meat sector that is meant to inform MEPs and their assistants. Animal welfare and environmental degradation feature prominently among the issues to be urgently addressed.

European pig sector suffering from animal welfare and environmental problems, says research by European Parliament

15 September 2020

Eurogroup for Animals

Commissioner Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission answers to an oral written question by Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP inquiring on the actions the EU Commission will undertake to promote immunocastration or the farming of entire pigs as valid alternatives to surgical castration in China.

EC to further develop cooperation with China on animal welfare and surgical castration of piglets

Tail-docked pigs have unacceptable level of tail lesions.

European Commission's audit in France reveals Pig Directive not enforced

In Brittany, the Cooperl breeders cooperative has set up industrial and marketing techniques which make it possible to avoid castrating piglets.

Animal welfare: the French cooperative where piglets are not castrated

28 February 2020

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