Pig farming is a business and is therefore strictly controlled and monitored in Germany.
At least that’s what consumers assume, or at least that’s what they hope. So how can it be that hundreds of pigs are starving to death unnoticed in the middle of Germany?
The current case happened in Schleswig-Holstein. But it is not an isolated case. It happens much more often than you might think.
Everyone is surprised, but nobody asks
The young farmer’s stables in Plön in Schleswig-Holstein are a little out of the way. The young farmer is well-known in the village and comes from a long-established family.
In 2020 – it’s coronavirus time – he suddenly stops working. The neighbours are surprised, but nobody asks.
After all, they don’t want to interfere. And the village doesn’t hear anything about the animals‘ horrific death throes in the stables outside.
Around 700 pigs starve and die of thirst while the people in the village simply go about their daily lives.
Why didn’t anyone notice?
When the pigs were discovered, they were already so badly decomposed that it was no longer even possible to determine their exact number.
It’s hard to imagine the agony the animals had to endure. And the overriding question is why nobody noticed.
The young farmer’s neighbours were „surprised“, but nothing more. Perhaps the young farmer just needed a little help.
Someone to enquire, offer or arrange support. After all, this is available especially for overburdened farmers.
Checks at far too long intervals
Animal welfare campaigners also blame the veterinary authorities for carrying out inspections at far too great intervals.
The Plön pig farmer’s last inspection was over three years ago. Shorter inspection intervals could prevent such serious cases.
And these cases are not even a rarity. It happens more often than you might think that farmers simply leave their animals to their own devices.
„Deine Tierwelt“ lists three further cases in which hundreds of pigs died in agony between 2021 and 2023 alone.
All that remains is to appeal to the public not just to be surprised, but to investigate and, if necessary, to inform the authorities. Even if it is unpleasant.
Source: Deine Tierwelt
