Our farm animal work

Sheep

Story:
The Sheep had a happy life on a farm in Australia eating grass, until he was wrenched from all he knew and forced to join 100,000 sheep on a container ship for a long journey in filthy and stressful conditions.

Problem:
Around 4 million sheep are transported annually and almost 40, 000 sheep die on route, many from starvation. The sheep, used to wide open grassland, are unbearably closely packed for up to 32 days to the Middle East where their slaughter is commonly cruel and in unsanitary conditions.

WSPA’s solution:
Live animal exports are unnecessary and avoidable. Frozen and chilled meat that has been killed humanely is an economic alternative, as up to 80% of Australia’s abattoirs are Halal certified, a requirement for meat consumed in the Middle East.

A global campaign backed by WSPA and some of the world’s leading animal charities is calling for an end to the long distance transport of live sheep, from Australia to the Middle East.

By raising money, you will be helping WSPA produce research in 2009 which shows the Australian Government the economic benefits of ending the live export trade and stopping the suffering of millions of sheep.

Donkey

Story:
The donkey is very depressed because she is made to carry tons of weight more than she can bear to lift; she has developed weeping pressure sores and is suffering from heat stress.

Problem:
Middle Eastern farmers rely on their donkeys to carry out arable work such as ploughing fields or transporting fruit and vegetables to market. Conditions are also formidable for the donkeys who carry Bedouin’s for miles through the hot, dry and desolate desert to collect water and wood. Some even use donkeys for herding goats and sheep.

WSPA’s solution:
WSPA is helping donkeys around the world in countries where support and advice is really needed. In Bethlehem, for example WSPA plans to establish owner education workshops that will concentrate on the prevention of these problems. During 2009 there will be three workshops per week that will take place, before individual veterinary treatments begin for the donkeys.

Cow

Story:
The cow is a factory farmed dairy cow. She was separated from her calf shortly after birth, causing her great distress. High energy feed is forcing her to produce around ten times more milk than she would naturally - her milk is reserved for humans only

Problem:
A free range dairy cow will stay with her calf, quickly developing a strong bond. A cow will feed its calf for six to eight months, and they will experience the outdoors together. Inside factory farms, the stress causes painful udder infections and lameness, made worse by manure covered concrete floors.

WSPA’s solution:
WSPA is working hard to convince governments, farmers and consumers that organic, free range farming is better for animals, people and the environment. WSPA recommends:
• Letting animals produce milk at a more natural rate without unnecessary antibiotics or hormones just to increase productivity
• Allowing animals to express their normal behavior and so preventing the need for mutilations such as tail-docking

Humanely farmed animals live longer, healthier and have more active lives, therefore the meat and milk they produce is better for you.

By raising money, you will be helping WSPA provide animal welfare training courses to cattle farmers in Brazil throughout 2009 helping improve the lives of millions of cows.

Pig

Story:
The pig is a factory farmed breeding sow that has been restrained for her whole life. She cannot turn round and is tethered by a short chain. The sow is fed constantly and fattened up in overcrowded, filthy pens with concrete or slatted floors without any natural light.

Problem:
The pigs suffer from weak bones, wasted muscles, heart damage and excruciating cuts and abrasions. Poor air quality causes lung infections and other respiratory problems. Prevented from behaving normally, the pigs often resort to tail biting and ear chewing. Factory farmers respond with tooth-clipping and tail-docking, mutilations which are usually carried out without anesthetic and often lead to prolonged pain.

WSPA’s solution:
As well as campaigning work, WSPA’s Model Farm Project is demonstrating practical, humane farming methods in action, starting in the major food producing countries of China and Brazil.

WSPA advises consumers to buy products from good free-range and organic farms keeping animals in conditions close to their natural environment, such as to Freedom Food and Soil Association standards.

By raising money, you will be helping WSPA continue its campaign in 2009 against the cruel ‘Pigs of God’ contests in Taiwan, where pigs are cruelly force-fed and slaughtered, helping to win better legal protection for pigs in Asia.