Pro Animals
Widespread animal suffering on factory farms in South Africa
ProAnimals is one of the five reasons to be ProVeg. The average person on a Western diet eats thousands of animals during their lifetime, most of which come from factory farms. Animals that are bred for human consumption, such as chicken, pigs and cows, are being subjected to terrifying living conditions in commercial farming environments. These factory farming environments are the perfect setting for disease outbreaks, evidenced by the most recent information about Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease in South Africa.
Widespread animal suffering on factory farms in South Africa
Humans all over the planet are feeling the impacts of a global viral outbreak. Countless individuals are grieving the loss of friends and family due to covid-19, while the number of people suffering complications continue to rise.
At the same time, animals that are housed within factory farming environments are suffering from disease outbreaks that cause death and mass culling events nationwide. The following examples of how chicken, pigs and cattle are suffering from Avian Influenza, Africa Swine Flu and Foot and Mouth Disease respectively, provide an example of this animal suffering.
“These outbreaks show that, despite the efforts at biosecurity, concentrated animal production facilities remain vulnerable to infectious diseases, which have serious impacts on animal and human health”
None of the before-mentioned diseases have evidence of infecting humans, but are directly resulting in suffering of sentient life on planet earth. Research suggests that even though there is no evidence of human transmission, we should remain vigilant to the risk of these illnesses making the leap to the next human pandemic and persisting as a unquantifiable threat to public health.
Chickens and Avian Influenza
More and more chickens in South Africa are suffering from H5N1 influenza, a viral respiratory illness with no vaccine or treatment options. Early in May 2021, the Department of Agriculture reported a total of 5 outbreaks on commercial chicken properties in North-West and Gauteng. Later the same day, a press release was issued that the avian influenza had been detected on a broiler breeder farm in Worcester, Western Cape.
The highly pathogenic avian Influenza demonstrates some parallels to coronavirus before the recent pandemic, as that it is a viral respiratory illness that has no vaccine or treatment options. The current practice worldwide is the culling of infected birds. In April 2021, it was reported that 300 birds had died from the virus on a commercial farm in Gauteng. Upon confirmation of the H5N1 virus, all of the birds were immediately killed.
As the supply of chicken eggs plummet, consumers have been warned that the price of eggs is expected to rise in the Western Cape.
Symptoms of Avian Influenza in chickens include quietness and extreme depression, sudden drop in egg production, red and swollen wattle and combs, swelling of skin under eyes, coughing, sneezing, nervousness, diarrhoea, haemorrhages and death.
Pigs and African Swine Fever
African Swine Fever is affecting pigs and farmers in every province as it ripples across the country. Since 2019, African Swine Fever has been reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, North West, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. In February 2021, pig farmers were reporting outbreaks in Free State, Potschefstroom, Limpopo and Gauteng.
In the same month, ASF was reported in the Western Cape for the first time. The outbreak was located in Northern Khayelitsha and resulted in 5% of pigs dying on two properties, with the potential to kill pigs on all farms.
Symptoms of African Swine Fever in pigs include fever, decreased appetite, weakness, red skin lesions, diarrhoea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and coughing.
Cows and Foot and Mouth Disease
On 29 May 2021, Red Meat Producers Organization (RPO) in South Africa, issued a press release stating that following the recent outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal led to South Africa losing their foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zone status. This causes a setback in exports and would take at least 5 years to regain this status.
South Africa recently on a permanent basis lost our foot and mouth disease (FMD) free zone status with the international animal health organisation, the OIE and the recent outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal is a further setback. It will take at least five years to regain this status, but in order for exports to grow during these times we must be seen to be making progress on this road containing foot and mouth disease.
Symptoms in cows include fever, blisters on the mouth and feet, drop in milk production, weight loss, loss of appetite, quivering lips, frothing at the mouth, blisters on teats and lameness.
Plant-Based Diet as an alternative
Choosing to eat consciously and reduce animal product consumption can spare the lives of animals in South Africa. Take the next step in your journey to reduce animal suffering by signing up for the ProVeg Veggie Challenge. Let us support you throughout 30 days of challenging yourself to reduce your meat intake, try vegetarian or vegan. We will send you daily emails with daily emails, recipes, meal plans and more!
Starbucks asked to review plant-based milk charge
We asked Starbucks to drop their surcharge on plant-based milks to help achieve new climate targets.
