Campaigners call for cruelty to end

Animal rights campaigners are calling for a ban on the use of cages for hens and crates for pigs.

Although battery cages were banned in Europe in 2012, two million birds in Scotland are still reared in enriched cages which prevent them from running, flying or experiencing fresh air and sunlight.

Pigs suffer a similar fate. Farrowing crates hold pregnant pigs from a week before their due date until their piglets are weaned at around 3-4 weeks. They are used to reduce piglet mortality by preventing the sow from accidentally crushing them, but severely restrict the sow’s movement so that she is unable to walk or even turn around.

OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to ban both forms of farm cages.

Its director Bob Elliot said: “Our farm animals need to walk, run, fly and peck and forage outdoors. Yet millions of sentient animals in Scotland still spend their lives, or important parts of their lives, confined in cages where they are unable to carry out these natural behaviours.”

The charity has launched a new petition calling for a ban on their use, following a petition by Compassion in World Farming calling on the UK government to ban cages for farm animals, which OneKind supports.

Elliot continued: “Animal welfare should be a top priority for the agriculture industry, but the continued use of these cruel and inhumane cages causes real health and welfare problems.

“We urge the Scottish Government to phase out farrowing crates for pigs and cages for all laying hens in Scotland so that we can see all our farm animals living cage-free and experiencing a life that is worth living.”