Posted September 16, 2008 by Marta Holmberg
By now, you’re likely well aware of how awesome pigs are—remember, they’re even smarter than dogs!
That makes what I’m about to share with you that much more disturbing. It’s horrifying to imagine any animal being slammed head-first into the ground, right? Imagine this happening to a piglet…
A new PETA investigation of a pig factory farm in Iowa—which breeds and supplies piglets to be grown and eventually slaughtered for Hormel (maker of SPAM and Dinty Moore), has captured extremely disturbing footage of workers abusing sows and their piglets.
In the video, you’ll see pregnant pigs kept in gestation crates so small that the mothers-to-be cannot even turn around, workers and supervisors kicking pigs maliciously, beating them with metal rods, and piglets being slammed against the floor to kill them (a “standard practice” in the pig meat industry). Some of the piglets convulsed for more than 12 minutes before dying.
Also documented by PETA’s undercover investigators:
Tails and testicles from baby pigsWatch the undercover video for yourself, forward this investigation to everyone you know, and take action to stop this abuse today!
♥ Marta
PS – Notice the PETA mention at the end of the video. Little did they know!
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
468 days ago
0
I swear I ask God to let me live to be able to help animals against the barbaric practices inflicted to animals by humans. This video just makes me cry, how can someone do this to baby pigs, they are not screaming because they are scared, they are screaming because it HURTS! They cut their tales because THEY DECIDE to keep them too close and of course they tend to bite their tales. I wish I could cut these criminals their nuts without anesthesia, I wish I would see them screaming so loud, it makes me sick!
1215 days ago
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What the hell is being done about this! We all need to do something. What can I do? The person that owns these farms should be put throught the process along with the workers!! And video it!!
1426 days ago
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i only saw a little bit of this video cause i started to cry.i dont know how people can do this to poor helpless animals.this is why i became vegetarian.i hope those motha fukers go to hell
1600 days ago
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I live in Australia. A so called civilized country. They have so called animal rights laws but these only extend to companion animals, not those used in factory farming, there the farmers are protected against prosecution ( if they do anything cruel to these animals, they are exempted from these animal laws. ) Factory farming is full on here as is the live export industry which is horrendous, the day before Christmas I went into an Australia Post Office to get some stamps for Christmas cards, as I stood in line waiting my turn, I glanced around and in boxes where hundreds of fluffy toys on display to be sold, I pick one up and found that they came out of China, I was so horrified as I realized that this was all fur taken from animals, all I could hear was the screams and cries of these dear little folk. I went home after holding back tears, standing in line waiting my turn. I cried I broke my heart. But the only thing I can do is just support where ever I can, and use my mouth to spread the truth of what is going on. I do use a saying to people that do not want to listen ” Ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately humans do hide behind there ignorance (so called.) and selfish desirers. Yes I applause the PETA uncover agents I think that they have courage beyond.
1603 days ago
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I dont know why they would freakin cut pigs tails off that is so mean and cruel and why do the torture them before they kill them i feel so bad i would never work at a slaughter house!
1688 days ago
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Mr. Piggy took the words right out of my mouth.
I agree 100%.
Disgusting….
1691 days ago
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I have watched enough of these type of videos that I don’t need to watch this one to be outraged. Why is it that humans think they are so special? We justify murder when it is done to another species even when the other species has feelings, a heart and other organs just like ours.
I just don’t get it! They shed blood just like us and the only difference between them and us is that they are of another species. It makes me livid and I don’t understand how anyone can work in a slaughterhouse or factory farm and not see that. May karma be inflicted on these bastards!
The beast is indeed outside the cage!
1691 days ago
1
Was for me, I will do the usual service to those people … and I’m not kidding!
1693 days ago
0
this is so horrible
i tried to watch the video but i had to turn it off.
i really hope those people get what they dish out
makes me so sick =/
1693 days ago
1
EVERYONE,
PLEASE EMAIL, SEND MESSAGE, COMMENT OPRAH AND TELL HER TO DO AN EPISODE ON CRUELTY ON PIG FACTORY FARMS, SPECIFICALLY THIS ONE.
PEOPLE SAW WHAT HAPPENS AT PUPPY MILLS, AND NOW ITS BECOMING A LAW.
OPRAH HAS THE POWER TO OPEN EVERYONES EYES AND REALIZE THAT THIS WORLD NEEDS TO CHANGE.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL OPRAH TO DO AN EPISODE ON PIG FARM FACTORIES AND OTHER FARM AANIMALS THAT GET ABUSED AND NEGLACTED.
THIS IS A SHAME,
SO PLEASE HELP!
1693 days ago
0
what is peta doing to stop this? or do they just video tape it???
1693 days ago
0
I cant believe that this is allowed. If this were happening to a human this person would be in jailed, but because it’s happening to an animal in which the industry makes a profit off-it’s considered acceptable. What will it take for humans to realized that animals are not our to eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!. They have a right to live just like we do. They should show this video on every TV station across the country. Maybe then people will think 2x before buying meat.
1693 days ago
0
I cried watching every single video on here. Its so WRONG! absolutely bloody wrong!! someone needs to take all those nasty things to a human who does that to animals and see how it TRULEY FEELS. I am crying!
1700 days ago
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Oh!! c’est trop horrible!! Mais comment on peut vouloir faire sa? Sa me dégoute…
1701 days ago
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stupid f*cking hicks and their complete lack of education, morals, and tact.
i would thoroughly enjoy sodomizing each and every abusive employee with a sharpened metal rod, ripping their testicles off, and–yes, i’ll say it–killing their children in the most violent and painful ways possible.
the legal system needs to get with the times and allow swift retribution to any and all that mindlessly abuse animals to help “work out their frustrations” or simply for no other reason than the fact that they can. i say an eye for an eye, or a pair of testicles for a pair of testicles; will someone please exact justice on these lowly american “meat producers” and have them dragged out to pasture and shot repeatedly–starting with the feet and slowly working up.
i would much rather watch hours of these cowardly losers beating their children, than one more minute of them being anywhere near these defenseless pigs.
after watching this video, i now who the real pigs are.
the human race is a failed experiment and i would suggest that any actions that could be made to help speed up our inevitable demise, be performed as swiftly as possible.
we are a cancer on this planet, and should be dealt with accordingly.
too much?
maybe, but i dare anyone to watch this video and not feel completely consumed by rage for what we allow to take place on this planet.
civilized indeed.
1702 days ago
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we are reading lord of the flies in school. i don’t know if anyone’s read it, but there’s a very graphic torture scene involving a pig. of course read this part outloud right after i hear about the hormel pig thing… i was trying so hard not to cry in class, i couldn’t breathe. i had to excuse myself from the room and go to the bathroom.
1704 days ago
1
oh shit! That’s disgusting, yet very sad. It bothers me to see the baby pigs having thier tails and testicles cut off T_T
1704 days ago
0
Have you ever tried moving cows or pigs with just a rattle? It often doesn’t work. Just putting that out there. =]
1705 days ago
0
Hey Kris,
just put your self in the shoes of a farm animal. Would you like to be raised to kill with no chance of survival or would you rather be killed naturally by a true predator?
1705 days ago
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omg, i just watched the video and i can’t stop crying. i had to force myself to watch the video. if someone treated me like that i would want everyone to know and people to see that because i had to suffer through it.
how could someone do that? just looking at the pig and then hearing them scream? those people are sick fucking asswholes. how can we help more?
1706 days ago
0
um ew
1706 days ago
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i know it looks disgusting but thats not the part of the pig i eat! who cares, there is plenty of pigs in this world!!!!!!!
1706 days ago
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Sadly i didnt read anything before i watched the video.
It was simply shocking to watch, it makes me wonder if the workers carrying out these tortures have children, and if theyd enjoy kicking the shit out of their own?
Death is too good for these people.
Throughout watching i thought of the film ‘Babe’ and how happy that little pig was, the same goes for the story ‘Charlottes Web’. Surely thats how a pig should be, happy and carefree, not beaten to within an inch of its life.
It is against the laws of nature to cull in this way, i say, castrate the bastards in exactly the same fashion, any female workers? Jam a rod where the sun dont shine, see how much she squeals.
Im spreading the word, and the video.
1706 days ago
0
alright, that is fair enough i suppose. Would you mind coming out to my family farm to try them out?
1706 days ago
0
Hey Kris,
Herding boards, noise-making shakers, rattles, flags, and many other humane animal-handling implements are widely available to the industry. Gate rods, canes, clothespins, feet, and fists have no part in humane handling, and I think experts would concur.
Thanks for asking!
-Marta
1706 days ago
0
Alright, I can respect that, and this time I DID put my name in. But If I may ask, how would you propose people moved pigs, or any animal? For example to a place where there is food readily available for them, when they are being stubborn, and staying in an area where the food is depleted? I suppose this is more from a small farm perspective rather than a factory farm, but I’m curious.
1706 days ago
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Hey “Anonymous” -
At peta2, we appreciate anyone taking the time to share her/his point of view with us, whether it differs or not. However, we appreciate it even more when you stand by your views enough to actually sign your name, rather than remain anonymous. Just something to consider for the future. However, if I were defending kicking a pig, I probably wouldn’t want to sign my name either.
-Marta
1706 days ago
0
p.s. I challenge the blog owner to approve this comment, even if it somewhat challenges some points of his/her view.
1706 days ago
0
Those people are sick.
1706 days ago
0
Ok, yes some of the things in the video are ridiculous and cruel Ex. the killing of the baby pigs, how the workers talked, and things like that. But honestly, things like moving the animals is necessary, and chasing them or poking them to get them to move is often one of the only ways. At first glance, it may seem very cruel to practice this, but think about it. Pigs, cows, etc, have a lot tougher hide than humans, and the feeling from the blows is greatly reduced from what you or I would feel at the same blow. An example clearly documented even in the video, is when the worker is kicking the pig. sure, he probably could have avoided the face, but think for yourself and ask, does the pig even look phased by this?
All I’m saying is that everyone needs to think for themselves, think logically and critically. Obviously, this video is put together with a bias on the environmental and stop cruelty to animals side of things, A.K.A. propaganda, and yes, this stuff obviously happens. But what is the frequency of it happening, and how can we reduce the frequency?
I would encourage anyone and everyone who is concerned with this problem to visit a pig farm (or any type of farm), either a small family farm, or a factory farm. If you REALLY want to do something about it, apply to work there. When people get DIRECTLY involved in the area that they are trying to change, rather than just telling others that they need to change, is when that actual positive change can actually occur.
You can choose to agree or disagree with my opinion, but it won’t change without a lot of good evidence disputing it. Thanks for taking the time to read and at least consider this as a semi valid point, and have a good rest of the day!
1706 days ago
0
I can’t believe this…we have 8:31 PM now in Germany..and I must go to my adopted pig.
Who the fuck can do this?
I hate these mother fuckers, they should be in jail or die!
Animals are to love and not to put agressions on.
1706 days ago
0
After watching the video and having to pause it a few times to go cry and somewhat keep myself from throwing up i stumbled upon these pictures that made me literally cry and almost throw up on the keyboard, the thought of meat makes me sick, the smell makes me almost vomit, and those pictures and Video…I did.
So if i’m a “normal” person that thinks this is just cruel and severely F’d Up, how can they do this and laugh? i just don’t understand, Being a Buddhist Vegetarian, the thought of animals being killed in the first place saddens me, but this way is just wow..wtf is wrong with the world today?
The end of the video when the guy was talking about how PETA wasn’t there made me laugh, and made the video somewhat worth watching to find out how dumb they really are.
1706 days ago
0
I was completely horrified when I heard about these poor pigs, I couldn’t even bring myself to wath the video, I cried so much watching another video about cruelty to pigs. I hope this stops and soon!
1707 days ago
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I read about this atrocity on CNN
it made me so angry, People will not care about animals because they, the(perpetrators)are the real Convivores, the terorrists to the animal kingdom. Raping, those precious pigs with hateful intent may it come back to them MAY IT COME BACK TO THEM 100 fold. God will not have mercy on their day of reaping.
1707 days ago
0
this is so disgusting. what i am not getting (minus why people would do that to any animals) is why this probably hasn’t been reported to the ASPCA. this could probably fall under the cruelty laws and whoever is doing this could (and should be!) punished.
justice for the pigs!!!
1707 days ago
0
Poor little piggies! That photo is just disgusting! I am so glad this investigation brought all these horrible abuses to light. Maybe more people will stop eating pigs because of it.
1707 days ago
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omg!!! =( when i saw it i cried this was soooo sad. poor little pigs!!
1707 days ago
0
i cant even bring myself to watch the video as i hav seen this … stupidity ( there isnt a word strong enough) happen way too many times on other videos. i really does make you think. and think what them killers are thinking, no real human being could be so sick minded. it makes me hate being human. but as humans, we are the only ones to make a change. and we NEED this to end. no one will listen if we just have a little protest about not eating meat. we need something bigger. a lot bigger. involving everyone. young , old, rich poor. everyone. it can be done. and not just stopping people hurting pigs. every animal should have the same rights as humans. like going back in time to the good old days where they only used animals that dies of natural causes for needed resources, and using everypart of it. we dont need this in our lives. this life is all we have, and its going to be a lot longer than the slaughter victims. We Need to act soon. any suggestions : monkey__mad@hotmail.com
1707 days ago
0
thats disturbing
1707 days ago
0
poor piggies im sad just from reading it…..i cant even watch the video cause i know if i did i would cry =(
1707 days ago
0
I can’t even watch this video, because I know if I do I will buy the next flight out to Iowa, find those lowlife scumbags and beat the every living shite out of them!!! Hell, even just reading about it makes me want to do it! Anyone with me?? It just makes me so mad, and I want them to feel pain, life-crippling pain. I want to shove a rod up their assses, see how they like it. Now I need to go unleash my anger on my punching bag. There is not enough of this type of reporting on the news! What more can we do?!
1707 days ago
0
How can anyone justify such cruelty?!
Action taken.
1707 days ago
0
… there are no words for this… i did watch the video – it keeps me from never ever returning to eating any meat again, although all the people in my surrounding do eat meat… as of course if you dont see this but just the “packaged meat” at a counter in a supermarket or some whatever kind of sausage you never see it as that what it was… you cut this out of your imagination that this really is dead rotting flesh, a part of someone who had a heartbeat and feelings and very much pain to come to this point… plus who really thinks that eating urine, blood and the adrenaline of a scared to death living body will do him any good!?!?! poor poor stupid people… let alone starting thinking of things like would you eat your dear cat or dog? – no then you start saying that the food chain has always been like this, that meat is essential for a humans diet, that our ancestors ate meat and drank milk blah blah blah.. just to get your head and mind out of this – out of taking own responsibility and facing what is happening nowadays in industrial processes with animals and foods… that there is no pig or cow standing happily on green gras with their babies and when time is up it is being put into sleep as a natural process and with a happy smile on its face!?!?
like linda mccartney once said: “if slaughterhouses had glasswalls, we’d all be vegetarians”
1707 days ago
0
I am just shocked…just shocked. I feel an uncontrollable anger from within me.If I saw that shit going on, I would completely lose it, and show those bastards a taste of their own cruelty. It takes alot to piss me off, but doing this to defenseless animals….UGH! God, how I would love to get my hands on those bastards. I would pay to have just 5 mins alone with them!
1708 days ago
0
I cried when i watched the video.It hurts especially when the piglets are being hit on the floor.There’s always a KARMA for those people who so cruel to animals!Pls. treat the animals right!!
1708 days ago
0
I am TOTALLY outraged…. and I am not a vegetarian. I am furious….
1708 days ago
0
The factory farms for all animals are unecessarily cruel..there’s no reason on earth to cut the piglets’ tails off, or break out their teeth, there’s no reason to de-horn calves (much more cruel). THe only reason they castrate animals is so they grow fatter..I mean add fat to their meat…so they weigh heavier when they go to market….no one needs fattier meat. Greed Greed Greed….that and a sick demented desire to be unmercifully cruel to helpless animals….
Here’s what we should do…tit for tat…every farm worker who is caught mistreating the animals in their care are subject to the same treatment…balls pulled off…teeth pulled out…fingers chopped off (since we don’t have horns or tails)…and beaten with metal rods, and rods shoved up their…..*sses….do you think that would give them a moment’s pause???
1708 days ago
0
I can’t believe that this type of thing will happen at a Hormel Farm! I am outrage!
1708 days ago
0
I watched part of the video and had to stop it. I can’t remember the last time I cried that hard. I was sick to my stomach. If any human being can honestly watch that video in its entirety and feel okay with it, you literally don’t have a soul to speak of. How can anyone that is created by God behave in such a way. These people should obviously be in jail. Only a psychopath without conscience could do something so calculating to hurt another creature. It will take a long time to get over this. The video is so haunting. However, perhaps some good can come out of this by exposing farms such as this and prosecuting criminals. I give so much credit to the brave person that went undercover to get the video. The company better do something to seek justice, otherwise the all mighty might have something to say about it on judgement day. I’m disgusted that a company could allow this to happen and I’m digusted that these people consider themselves of the same species as I. Looking into their eyes would be like looking into the eyes of evil.
1708 days ago
0
i understand you do these investagations for the purpose of exposeing autrocitys but how can you document such horrible things for 3 months?? i would lose it.. and kill the mother fu%^&rs who are doing that crap and do it back to them only 10 times worse. i am sorry but you were able to stand there and watch? i guess i am trying to understand how one can turn off emotion and compassion and film abuse like this going on and see it day after day…. can we say “THERAPY”?
JUST A THOUGHT I ANNOT BRING MYSELF TO WATCH THE VIDIO THE LOG NOTES WERE ENOUGH AND HAD ME IN TEARS… i support your cause but it saddens me because i know i wouldnt be able to be around that inviorment for that long without losing it or hurting someo one.
thank you
sincerly sharon
1708 days ago
0
this is astonishing..
if you do not believe evil exists without fear, WATCH the video.
CNN must put this on their programming WITH the address for the video.
how horrific!!!!!!!
1708 days ago
0
thank you thank you thank you to the work that PETA does. Americans are so stupid. They constantly abuse animals and have no idea what goes on in the meat industry. WHEN are these precious being going to have the rights that they DESERVE.
1708 days ago
0
holy crap!!!! what the hell?!?!
1708 days ago
0
Wow, that is so sickning. How could they do that to the poor little pigs? That is just so wrong. I watched the movie and I was just in tears.
1708 days ago
0
I cannot believe people would do this to another living being! This is making me cry because I have a pig who lives with me. I hope those people suffer and go through as much pain as those innocent pigs and even more!!
1708 days ago
0
Holy shit. The things those people say in that video… It seems too barbaric to be real.
1708 days ago
0
This is so disturbing. It’s sad that people see this as normal…
I’m sending this video to the people I know right now.
Pigs deserve to live a healthy, happy life.
1708 days ago
0
wow, i seriously want to CRY.
this is ridiculous!
it breaks my heart.
how the hell can people do that so RUTHLESSLY?!
gahh. makes me sick to my stomach.
1708 days ago
0
This is absolutely beyond…ABSOLUTELY BEYOND disgusting, CRUEL and INHUMANE. Like the poster above me, I cannot even bring myself to watch this video. It would just tear me up. My biggest question is WHY? WHY? WHY? What on God’s green earth kind of satisfaction do these people get from this atrocious behaviour? BTW, once again I agree with the above poster…I hope these people die.
1708 days ago
0
This is so disgusting and horrific.Oh god I can’t stand people.
I’m crying too.:(
1708 days ago
0
I’ve posted several of these videos on my myspace page and they actually turned a few friends vegetarian!
1708 days ago
0
I am so outraged,
I am so mad.
=/
I cannot believe this.
1708 days ago
0
this video was so horrible to watch. How can pople be so cruel? it sickens me.
1708 days ago
0
Omggggggg that’s so fucked up.
Now I’m saddd. =[
1708 days ago
0
This is so horrible. I am crying just by reading this. I can’t even bring myself to wacth the video. I hope those people die.