The welfare of cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, lambs and goats, bred intensively in South Africa for human consumption, have come into focus on World Farm Animals’ Day marked on Sunday.
Humane Society International Africa (HSI) has called on the public to use their purchasing power and make conscious consumer choices, as the “unimaginable suffering” of farmed animals in South Africa’s industrial production systems should not continue unnoticed.
World Farm Animals’ Day stemmed from the birth date of the late Mahatma Gandhi who lived and worked in South Africa for 21 years, fighting against injustice and discrimination. He was an outspoken advocate of non-violence - towards both human beings and animals.
“We are exceptionally proud and protective of our diverse wildlife, and we express great outrage towards cruelty inflicted upon companion animals. It is tragic then that the same mercy is not shown for the over 1 billion farmed animals which are bred and slaughtered in South Africa every year, many in horrific conditions. The mass production of animals for meat, eggs and dairy has grave consequences for the animals, people and the planet but is largely ignored and even disguised,” said farmed animal welfare specialist for HSI Africa, Candice Blom.
Nearly 70% of the 135 000 cows in South African production systems are confined to crates and more than 90% of the 27 million egg-laying hens in the country are housed in small wire battery cages, giving each hen less than an A4 piece of paper’s space, the organisation said. Studies show that the intensive confinement of these animals not only causes them physical pain but also great psychological stress, HSI Africa explained.
“Decades have passed without material amendments of legislation to improve the welfare standards for farmed animals. HSI Africa hopes that acknowledging a day dedicated to farmed animals and raising awareness of the lack of welfare in our intensive animal production facilities will help increase South Africans’ consciousness about where their food comes from. This day also serves as an opportunity to call on government, producers and industry bodies to urgently transition towards a sustainable food system that is not premised on systemic animal cruelty,” Blom added.
Welfare organisation Four Paws joined the call for government to introduce regulations, change laws or mindsets to fight for the welfare of all farm animals.
Campaigns Officer at Four Paws in South Africa, Bertha Moteane, said: “One of the biggest factors affecting farm animal welfare is the major gap in regulations, lack of specific standards, and failure to enforce laws.”
Statistics show at present over one billion chickens are killed for food every year in South Africa, Four Paws said.
“The intensive farming system does not only have negative impacts on animals. It also has devastating impacts on humans and the planet. Reducing this way of farming will have a positive impact on environmental, animal, and human welfare.”
She points out that the rapidly increasing demand for livestock products has led to an increase in production.
“The intensification of farming has led to traditional farming practices being discarded for industrialised systems. An increasing demand of livestock products thus comes with a high price tag for the environment,” Moteane added.
There is a considerable price disparity between animal products from intensive factory farms and those from animal-friendly farms, she said.
The organisation advised authorities to join the Four Paws #LiveKinder campaign by basing their decisions on the 3-Rs principles of reduce, refine, and replace.
“By reducing we mean that the public should reduce their consumption of animal-based products or remove them completely. Four Paws recommends consumers should make more plant-based food choices. Refining involves scrutinising food and fashion choices and choosing products that promote better animal welfare. Replace means substituting animal-based products with alternatives.”
Cape Times