Laois councillors refuse to back ban of ‘cruel’ pig farming practices

It was cruelty to pigs and not foxes that caused an argument in Laois County Council chambers, ahead of Christmas.

A councillor described painful practices such as cutting off teeth and tails and castration, asking for his colleagues to support a proposed ban.

However farming councillors hotly argued in favour of the methods.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan from the Portlaoise Municipal District, brought a motion to the December meeting, to ask for the council to write to Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and the Oireachtas, giving Laois support for the proposed changes to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2013, to improve welfare of pigs.

“This is nothing to do with fox hunting or dog welfare. I was contacted by the National Animal Rights Association, I’m in favour of reforming any cruel practices that cause suffering to animals. 

“Tail docking is banned in many parts of Europe but in Ireland 95% of pigs are docked. It’s an extremely painful procedure, it cuts through all nerve and tissue. The EU directive is it shouldn’t be happening, it is recognised as a cruel act.

“Teeth clipping is a very painful and stressful procedure. The alternative is teeth grinding, seen as a lot more welfare friendly.

“Sow stalls are essentially metal cages where pigs are trapped for up to four weeks of their pregnancy, they can’t turn. Again these are banned in many countries. When a pig is about to give birth they are trapped in farrowing crates for up to six weeks. The pig has no option but to lie down or stand up, she is not able to interact with her piglets. The EU Commission is to phase these out.

“This is nothing against livelihoods, I don’t want any farmers suffering. They need to be supported and possibly compensated. There would need to be a transition period to upgrade facilities,” Cllr Mulligan said.

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan who is a practising veterinarian, seconded his motion.

“I absolutely support the sentiments outlined, this bill considers regulation of sow stalls and banning of teeth clipping and tail docking which are identified as painful. We know that from research. It’s important to highlight that routine clipping and docking have been banned by the EU since 2008. So they are banned today in Ireland as routine procedures, they are only meant to be used as a last resort. Despite that, these practices are still widespread in Ireland,” she said.

She said that tail docking is done to stop tail biting, caused by boredom and “density being too high”,

She also wants funding for farmers to change pig structures, to retrain and for pig welfare research.

Cllr Ollie Clooney is a farmer and said he was not in support.

“Tails can be cut at a very young age, it’s a very limited injustice. If not cut they will get infected and the pig will die or you have to go to a vet which could cost more than the pig is worth.

“Pigs will bite one another if teeth are not done, and when a sow has bonhams, she will either lie on them or eat them. They have to be in these confined spaces,” he said.

He said one of his sows ate ten of her litter of 15 bonhams, and lay on the other five.

“Everyone knows the price of bacon is the same for the last 20 years. Do you want cheap food or not?” he said.

He warned that the legislation would result in Irish pig farmers leaving the industry and imported pigs with “very little regulation”.

“Unfortunately the pig trade had to be scaled up because of the price supermarkets are paying. It’s alright to bash the aul farmer,” he said.

Cllr Paddy Buggy also farms.

“Farming budgets are cut left, right and centre, there is no money for this transition you refer to. Farmers don’t go out and say ‘ how will I be cruel?’. These procedures are there for health and safety, not only of the animals but the people working with them.”

Cllr John King is also against the changes.

“I had pigs and worked in the butcher trade for 20 years. If a pig is not castrated there’s a different taste. Pigs have to isolated because they will chew and chew. Rules can be taken too far,” he said.

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Cllr Marie Tuohy supported the motion, saying she is in favour of “kinder ways to deal with animals.”

Cllr Mulligan said he was “not going to apologise for improving the welfare of any animal”.

The motion was defeated in a vote of eight against four, with three councillors abstaining.