Think Outside the Crate Campaign |
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Farm Sanctuary
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Nationwide, nearly one million calves raised for veal and nearly six million breeding sows (female pigs) suffer nearly their entire lives inside tiny crates so small the animals can't even turn around.
Veal factory farmers separate calves from their mothers within the first few days of birth and cram them into individual crates or stalls, tethered by their necks. Inside these enclosures, the calves can barely move. The veal industry is a direct byproduct of the dairy industry and depends on it for survival.
Breeding sows suffer a similar fate. Throughout nearly their entire four-month pregnancies, the animals are confined inside individual metal gestation crates barely bigger than their own bodies, unable to perform many of their natural behaviors.
Due to animal welfare concerns, the entire European Union has already banned both veal crates and gestation crates, effective 2007 and 2013, respectively. Yet, in the United States, the use of these abusive crates remains customary practice.
For both calves and pigs, intensive confinement in crates causes painful and severe welfare problems. The HSUS is working to end the cruelty inherent in veal and gestation crate confinement:
In Legislatures and on Ballots
On Election Day 2006, Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed a historic HSUS-supported initiative to prohibit the confinement of calves in veal crates and breeding sows in gestation crates.
In 2002, The HSUS played an instrumental role in a coalition that helped pass a landmark ballot measure banning the use of gestation crates in the state of Florida, the first time in the country that a standard factory farming practice was outlawed by a state on animal welfare grounds. The measure takes effect in 2008.
In 2007, Oregon became the first state to ban gestation crates through its state legislature. A number of other legislatures are considering bills to ban the use of these cruel crates, and The HSUS is actively supporting passage of these important and humane measures.
The November 2008 ballot in California will include The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, which requires a phase-out of crates and cages that do not allow animals enough space to turn around or extend their limbs.
With Corporations, Restaurants, and Institutions
Gestation and veal crates are too cruel for any socially responsible business or entity to support. The HSUS works with corporations, restaurants, and institutions interested in adopting more humane procurement practices by choosing not to buy products from factory farms using abusive crates.
Already, responsible restaurant and grocery leaders like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread and Oregon-based New Seasons Market are using pork from pigs not confined in crates. Chipotle CEO Steve Ells calls it "giving the animals a chance to live a decent life." Indeed, the animals suffer far less than the majority of pigs who are intensively confined on factory farms. In 2007, Burger King and Wendy's started phasing in the use of pork from producers that don't confine pigs in gestation crates. And Wolfgang Puck ended his use of veal from crated calves or pork from crated sows.
In January 2007, Smithfield, the nation's largest pork producer, made a landmark announcement: that it will phase out the confinement of pigs over the next decade. The decision came after Arizona and Florida voters approved measures to outlaw the crates. In February 2007, Cargill, the nation's eighth biggest pig producer, sent a letter to The HSUS stating that it has been transitioning away from gestation crates in its operations and that more than half of its sows are no longer confined in them.
Also in January 2007, two of the country's largest veal producers committed to phasing out the use of tiny crates to confine veal calves. Strauss Veal, the leading U.S. veal producer, and Marcho Farms both pledged to convert their operations to crate-free group housing systems within two to three years.
With the Public
Simply by leaving pork and veal from crated animals out of our grocery carts, we use our consumer power to improve the lives of pigs and calves. The HSUS offers informative materials to individuals and associations that detail the many welfare issues with intensive confinement.
See the Video
Thinking Outside the Crate
Confinement by Crate
Gestation Crates: A Sow's Life
Related Links
Farm Animal Legislation
Pigs Photo Gallery
An HSUS Report: Welfare Issues with Gestation Crates for Pregnant Sows
The Welfare of Intensively Confined Animals in Battery Cages, Gestation Crates, and Veal Crates
An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Animals in the Veal Industry
Scientists and Experts on Gestation Crates and Sow Welfare
