Breeding pigs – the ones that provide piglets for ham and bacon – are to be set free in the EU and USA – but not in SA

Cruel confinement of pigs is ‘abusive’ and leads to ‘psychosis’ – Humane Society of the United States

The infamous ‘gestation crate’ – a metal straight-jacket in which pregnant pigs are immobilised for almost four months on end, is to be banned by the USA’s leading pork producer, Smithfields Foods Inc.

Applauding Smithfield’s decision, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) said the narrow metal cages used to confine breeding pigs led to the development of psychosis in pigs.

“The move by Smithfield is a clear signal from a top producer that this cruel confinement has no place in the agricultural sector,” said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President. He pointed out that “confinement in gestation crates is so abusive that the entire European Union is phasing out the practice, with a total ban taking effect in 2013”.

Sadly, the South African Department of Agriculture has no plans to ban gestation crates which are justified as a cost-effective method of control and supervision at very high stocking densities, with minimum labour. In other words, the system provides pork at the lowest possible cost.

Commented Louise van der Merwe, representative for Compassion in World Farming (South Africa): “It’s insane of us to keep pigs in a system that drives them to insanity. To watch them is the saddest thing. Many of them are diagnosed by vets as ‘clinically depressed’. For months on end they cannot move backwards, forwards or even turn around. How crazy is that!?”

On behalf of the breeding sows trapped in gestation crates in South Africa, please voice your dismay to the Director General for Agriculture, Mr Masiphula Mbongwa on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   and copy to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it