Pig Vision - Kahden veljeksen tarina

Following the fate of two little piglets, Pig-Vision would like to take a closer look at life that pigs lead in intensive farming as it is typically practised today. Why? Well, people concerned about animal welfare always claim that pigs are kept in such terrible cruel conditions while the industry assures us that the conditions are perfectly acceptable. So who is right? PIG VISION - The Journey of two Brothers Pig-vision accompanies a young pig, we shall call him X15, on his journey. As a contrast we will also meet another young pig leading quite a different life. The first hour The piglets are born The Location: an average pig farm in Austria Nine piglets enter the world They live, only to be killed in a matter of months, for the meat industry. The metal cage confining the mother to the floor is known in the trade as a farrowing crate. Age: Just a few days old Castration without anesthesia X15 is put through a routine procedure endured daily by a quarter of a million piglets in the European Union. The farrowing crate prevents any natural contact between the mother and her children; apparently for their own protection, so that they won't get crushed, or so the industry tells us. Practically every pig in the industrialised world lives under these conditions. But every now and then something unexpected can happen The rescue team from the animal sanctuary Schabenreith collects one of X15's brothers and brings him to a new place. A home where he won't be slaughtered or used in any way to make a profit. In the sanctuary he will simply be allowed to live out his life. Age: three to four weeks The piglets are taken away from their mother. She must be impregnated again as soon as possible. A new home : The rearing pen Painful slatted flooring the pigs are forced to live above their own excrement Initial curiosity soon gives way to apathy and depression. After such a stressful journey it's important to have your nerves soothed a little. This is what home looks like now. JACKPOT has a whole world to discover here. But, there's plenty of time for that a whole lifetime... and the exploration begins… It's only polite to introduce yourself to new neighbours Pigs are extremely social, playful and curious animals. They possess an amazing sense of smell, much better than dogs, man's best friend. Scientists studying animals tell us that pigs belong to the most intelligent and sensitive creatures of all. The next move From the rearing pen to the fattening pen Feeding, sleeping Four long months Slatted flooring and concrete Four long months No chance to be outside or run around, but plenty to eat. Four long months Feeding, sleeping Feeding and sleeping JACKPOT also gets castrated; his experience however is a great deal less traumatic than his brother's. Even a visit to the vets is interesting. And then, a quick pin-prick and JACKPOT sinks into a deep slumber. this is how every castration could be, if we wanted to avoid unnecessary animal suffering. JACKPOT comes round after the anaesthetic in a deep bed of straw, in the company of his friends. Age: seven months Weight: 120 Kilogrammes X15 can now be used for his intended purpose. He is separated from the other pigs, but they will follow him in the next few days. His last journey begins Location: Austria A slaughterhouse The slaughter of a pig. Carried out exactly as the law stipulates. More than 5 million times every year in Austria 50 million times a year in Germany And worldwide over a billion times every year Yet another feeling individual, who didn't want to die, now reduced to a mass of flesh and bones, to the value placed on his body parts: for sausages, bacon and pork chops. JACKPOT is blissfully unaware of the fate suffered by his brothers and millions of his fellow species. He continues to enjoy his freedom roaming in the fields or cuddled up in straw sheltered from harm. Pigs can live to be 12 years old. They love to run, explore and play and could live long and enjoyable lives if we would only let them....