[Greens-Media] World Farm Animals Day – it’s time to stop cruel animal husbandry practices (Sue Pennicuik MLC Vic)

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

2nd October 2008 

World Farm Animals Day – it’s time to stop cruel animal husbandry 
practices

Greens MLC Sue Pennicuik said today that "World Farm Animals Day (WFAD), 
which is part of World Animals Week is a time for all of us to think about 
the exploitation and daily suffering of billions of animals in the world’s 
factory farms and slaughterhouses." 

"Animals in agriculture are subject to a range of cruel conditions, 
causing them great suffering and illness. Battery hens live their lives in 
cramped cages or putrid, overcrowded sheds. The use of sow stalls, which 
severely restrict a sow's movement, for the entire duration of its 
pregnancy (about 16 weeks) will still be allowed in Victoria for the next 
10 years. Sows and piglets can also be kept in 'farrowing crates' not much 
bigger than the sow's body. The cruel and unnecessary live sheep and 
cattle export industry continues unabated." 

"The Greens will work towards ending all practices that inflict 
unnecessary suffering on animals in agricultural industries. This would 
include phasing out intensive meat and egg production practices and 
replacing them with free-range methods and ending the long distance 
transport of animals," said Ms Pennicuik.

"Quite apart from the horrific standards of animal welfare that are 
tolerated in industrial farming practises, the production of meat and 
dairy products is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions."

"Discussion of this issue is one of the last great taboos because it 
confronts people’s personal eating habits as well as the agricultural 
economy, but we must confront it if we are serious about climate change," 
she said.

"This weekend, people will be gathering in Melbourne to draw attention to 
the impact of livestock agriculture on global warming and to advocate for 
the health, ethical and environmental benefits of a vegetarian diet." 

For more information: Sue Pennicuik 0409 055 875

Background:
A collaborative inquiry by the University of Sydney and the CSIRO into who 
uses all that energy, reported that on mid-90s figures animal industries 
contributed 30.64% of Australia's total emissions. 

In their 2001 State of the Environment Report, the CSIRO and the 
Australian government confirmed that 66% of Australia's water use is by 
agriculture. Of that, 78% is used on pasture for grazing and hay 
production. 

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