Guwahati, April 12: The Assam animal husbandry and veterinary department has prohibited the manufacture, sale and use of gestation and farrowing crates in pig farms across the state.
The move comes in the wake of an appeal from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, following which a circular was recently issued to the joint directors and animal husbandry and veterinary officers of all districts in Assam, mandating compliance with the animal rights group’s request within their jurisdiction.
“Gestation and farrowing crates are being manufactured and sold illegally and issued in pig farms in violation of Section 11 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In the said metal crates, there is insufficient space and it is problematic for the sow (mother pig) and piglets to move since they have to live on their own faces and urine,” Indira R. Kalita, director of Assam animal husbandry and veterinary department, stated in the circular issued here.
“Further it causes sores and diseases. It is therefore asked to prohibit manufacture, sale and use of this type of gestation and farrowing crates in pig farms under your jurisdiction,” the circular read.
Pig farrowing crates are metal cages that mother pigs are placed inside to give birth to their piglets.
Gestation crates (“sow stalls”) are metal cages, essentially the size of a pig, with concrete or slatted floors. Pigs kept in these crates are unable to turn around or even stand up without difficulty.
These devices confine pregnant pigs that are typically transferred to farrowing crates to give birth and are kept in them until their piglets are taken away.
Home to a large population of pigs, Assam is the latest of 20 states and union territories to issue directions against the housing of pigs in these contraptions.
Other governments that have issued circulars include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
“PETA India commends Assam for standing up for countless pigs and sparing them the severe cruelty of such crates,” PETA India advocacy officer Farhat Ul Ain said.