Cooperl, France’s largest pig slaughterhouse informed Eyes on Animals that they now place straw on the floor of the waiting pens designed for lightly injured and sick pigs. Throughout the EU, animals that cannot move without pain are not accepted for transport or slaughter. Nevertheless, there remain thousands of animals that arrive sick and weak, but are still “legally” acceptable for slaughter. These animals are always put in a separate waiting stall at the slaughterhouse where they have to wait until the end of the day to be slaughtered, so as not to risk contaminating the slaughter line. In most slaughterhouses, the waiting pens have bare cement flooring and are often wet and drafty. Animals that have a fever suffer greatly. Cooperl now places straw down and the pigs appear much more comfortable. Straw is a multifunctional material that pigs absolutely love- it is warm, manipulable, edible and soft to lie on.
