unfortunateconfinedsowsandboarsusedforbreedinghave
yet another source of distress: they are kept permanently
hungry.Animalsbeingfattenedformarketaregivenasmuch
astheywilleat;buttogivebreedinganimalsmorethanthe
bareminimumrequiredtokeepthemreproducingis,fromthe
producer’spointofview,simplyawasteofmoney.Thestudy
showed that pigs fed the rations recommended by the
Agricultural Research Councilin GreatBritain aregetting
only 60 percentofwhattheywouldeatiftheyhadmorefood
available.Moreover,theirreadinesstopressleversinorderto
getadditionalfoodwasmuchthesameaftereatingtheirdaily
rationsasitwasbefore,indicatingthattheywerestillhungry
immediately after feeding. As the scientists concluded:
Commerciallevelsoffeedingforpregnantsowsand boars,
whilst meeting the needs of the producer, do not satisfy
feeding motivation. It has often been assumed that high
production levels cannot be achieved in the absence of
adequatewelfare.Yetthehungerresultingfromthelowfood
levelsofferedto thepig breeding populationmayact asa
major source of stress.^92
Once again, theproducer’s profits and theinterests of the
animalareinconflict.Itistrulyamazinghowoftenthiscan
be demonstrated—while the agribusiness lobby constantly
assures usthat only happy, well-cared-for animals can be
productive.
Ofalltheformsofintensivefarmingnowpracticed,theveal
industryranksasthemostmorallyrepugnant.Theessenceof
vealraisingisthefeedingofahigh-proteinfoodtoconfined,
anemiccalvesinamannerthatwillproduceatender,pale-
coloredfleshthatwillbeservedtothepatronsofexpensive