The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2016 - Issue 46 | Page 50

Pigs/Livestock CELEBRITIES BACK NEW CAMPAIGN FOR PIG WELFARE »»CELEBRITIES ARE BACKING a new campaign for pig welfare. The ‘Turn Your Nose Up’ campaign has been created by Farms Not Factories to draw attention to what it calls “pig factories” that it believes threaten our health. According to the group, the factories are “cramming pigs into such horrendous conditions that they need to be routinely dosed with antibiotics just to keep them alive”. The group believes this leads to ‘superbugs’ – human diseases that are difficult to treat because they have become resistant to antibiotics. Dominic West, Rupert Everett, Jon Snow, Jeremy Irons (pictured) and Vivienne Westwood appear in a new two-minute campaign video which asks the public to show their support by posting a selfie turning their nose up on social media with the hashtag #TurnYourNoseUp. Tracy Worcester, founder of Farms Not Factories, said: “Our message is simple: we want to help bring an end to this dangerous, inhumane system and encourage the public to only buy pork from high-welfare farms. Vote for real farming over factory farming by buying pork with the labels RSPCA Assured, Outdoor Bred, Free Range or best of all, Organic.” The campaign is also being supported by Compassion in World Farming, the Soil Association, Eating Better, Antibiotic Action and Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics. Reacting to the campaign, the National Pig Association’s Senior Policy Adviser, Dr Georgina Crayford, said the footage is ‘not representatives’ of UK pig farming practices. She said if Farms Not Factories was to make it aware of suspected incidents of poor farming practice it would trigger an independent inspection. “The UK has some of the most stringent animal health and welfare legislation in the Fat Cattle Scales world and UK farmers regularly work above and beyond the necessary standards,’ she added. She said the Red Tractor logo ensures quality-assured food which meets responsible standards of animal welfare, food safety, traceability and environmental protection. The pig sector takes its responsibility regarding antibiotic use very seriously and is a member of RUMA (The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance). In May this year, the NPA launched the Pig Industry Antibiotic Stewardship Programme to monitor and minimise the amount of antibiotics used in pig production. Sheep Scales For ALL Your Weighing Requirements SPECIALISTS in Livestock Weighing • All Types of Livestock Weighing • Platform Scales • Bagging Scales • Forklift and Pallet Truck Weighing • Silo, Hopper and Tank Weighing Weighbridges • Portable and Fixed Weighbridges • Wheel and Axle Weighers • Yield Software • Livestock Scanning Interface Systems • Repair, Service and Calibration Note: We Are Now In Our New Premises At: Unit 3 A & B Muirhall Road, Larbert FK5 4RF Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] Web: www.weighingsolutions.co.uk 50 Jun/Jul 2016 www.farmers-mart.co.uk Weighing Terminals