Pork, Bacon & Ham

Pros

None.

Cons

• Almost certainly factory farmed.
• Mother pigs likely confined inside cages (farrowing crates).
• Piglets weaned too young and prone to sickness.
• Far more antibiotics used in pig farming than other species.
• Piglets mutilated (tails cut off and teeth clipped) without pain relief or anaesthetic.
• Little usable enrichment.
• Often filthy overcrowded pens.
• Pigs so stressed they cannibalise one another.
• Gassed to death in CO₂ gas chambers which cause severe pain and distress.
• Farms linked to air and water pollution and increased deaths in local communities from respiratory disease.

Pros

None.

Cons

• Almost certainly factory farmed.
• Mother pigs likely confined inside cages (known as farrowing crates).
• Piglets weaned too young and prone to sickness.
• Far more antibiotics used in pig farming than other species.
• Piglets mutilated (tails cut off and teeth clipped) without pain relief or anaesthetic.
• Little usable enrichment.
• Often filthy overcrowded pens.
• Pigs so stressed they cannibalise one another.
• Gassed to death in CO₂ gas chambers which cause severe pain and distress.
• Farms linked to air pollution and raised deaths in local communities from respiratory disease.
• Lower environmental compliance than non-Red Tractor farms.

Pros

• Mother pigs live outdoors and their young are born outside.

Cons

• Outdoor space is often a patch of dirt and a metal arc.
• Piglets weaned from their mothers too young and taken to indoor units, which are often highly industrial, filthy, overcrowded factory farms.
• Little indoor enrichment.
• Piglets mutilated (tails cut off and teeth clipped) without pain relief or anaesthetic.
• Pigs likely slaughtered in CO₂ gas chambers which cause severe pain and distress.
• Greater land use required so negatively impacts wildlife.
• Contributes to both air and water pollution.

Pros

• Mother pigs live outdoors for their whole lives and the piglets for around half their lives.

Cons

• They may have only a patch of dirt with a metal arc in which to shelter from extreme weather.
• Piglets spend up to 10 weeks outdoors but then it’s back to the old factory farm for them.
• Piglets mutilated (tails cut off and teeth clipped) without pain relief or anaesthetic.
• Pigs likely slaughtered in CO₂ gas chambers which cause severe pain and distress.
• Greater land use required so negatively impacts wildlife.
• Contributes to air and water pollution.

Pros

• Some pigs are reared outdoors (but not all).
• Pregnant pigs cannot be locked inside cages.
• Must have straw.
• More space than the bare legal minimum.

Cons

• Many pigs are still factory farmed indoors.
• Painful mutilations (tail docking, teeth “reduction” and nose-ringing) still permitted.
• Highly stressed animals, and untreated injuries and wounds found.
• Pigs slaughtered in CO₂ gas chambers which causes severe pain and distress.
• Water pollution issues remain a problem.

Pros

• Pigs have outdoor access year-round, except in severe weather.
• Mother pigs are not caged inside farrowing crates.
• No painful mutilations permitted (tail docking, teeth “reduction” or nose-ringing).
• Pigs weaned later than others which means fewer antibiotics and other drugs used.

Cons

• Polluter of air and rivers.
• Pigs likely slaughtered in CO₂ gas chambers which causes severe pain and distress.