Inspection of Piglet Transport in Italy

In Italy, Animals’ Angels trails a transport with Danish piglets destined to fattening. The trade of piglets between both countries nearly tripled between 2014 and 2016 (source: Eurostat).

The little animals we can inspect are destined to Southern Italy. We call the police and the first blatant problem is that the drinkers are turned off although piglets need to have water available continuously during the entire journey.

As the drivers turn on the water system, it becomes clear that some of the water nipples (at least in three compartments in three decks) are out of order. Further, the nipples are installed only on one side of the truck making it difficult for the piglets on the opposite side to reach them. But even worse is that the drinkers in all compartments of the fourth loading deck are impossible to reach. A rail was installed parallel to the side of the truck hindering the access to the drinkers. The piglets standing here are desperate to get water.

The piglets standing next to the faulty drinkers are fighting with each other having foam at their little mouths. They bite the nipples trying vainly to get water. They are also biting themselves causing wounds to their ears and body.

The police issue a fine but the truck is allowed to continue to destination. This is yet another example of how reality is far away from the ideal of the European institutions claiming that farm animals are protected during their long way to slaughter.

Animals´ Angels will continue to document this gap between law and reality.