RONAN O’CONNELL

The West Australian

A Gingin piggery raided by police two years ago amid claims that some pigs at the facility had eaten others which had died in the pens has been charged with animal cruelty.
  
Westpork Pty Ltd confirmed yesterday that it had been charged with the mistreatment of one pig by the Department of Local Government and Regional Development.
  
A department spokeswoman said the charge laid under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 against Westpork, its general manager Neil Ferguson and Westpork Mindarra II manager Robert Massam had been heard yesterday in Gingin Magistrate’s Court.
  
It is understood the charge stems from an investigation into its Gingin piggery that began in early 2007 following claims by an animal welfare group that pigs at the facility had been forced to wallow in filth so deep they struggled to walk and had been left to die slowly once illness took hold.
  
A Westpork spokesman declined to comment on the charge but defended the company’s reputation, saying that it made every effort to treat its livestock in a humane manner.
  
“Our animals’ welfare is the highest priority for us and our veterinary procedures are in line with industry standards,” he said. “This charge has serious implications for the livestock industry nationally.” The spokesman said that Westpork operated the biggest piggery in WA, with more than 40,000 animals on site every day.
  
It was also the State’s biggest producer of pork, providing 150,000 animals a year and accounting for 30 per cent of local pork supplies.
  
WA Farmers Federation president Mike Norton said the pig industry had improved its handling of animals since the 2007 raid. “I think the industry has made a lot of changes since then,” he said. “They are doing everything they can to eliminate any animal welfare issues being raised against them.”
  
Animal Rights Advocates coordinator Jonathan Hallett said the charge against Westpork was proof of the industry’s inability to regulate itself. “ARA is seriously concerned for the welfare of pigs in all such factory farms,” he said.
  
“Currently, farmed animals, such as these pigs, are regarded merely as production units. We think pig welfare comes a poor second to the need to make profits."
  
The police stock squad and local government, health, agriculture and immigration officials raided the Gingin piggery in January 2007 after a complaint from the group.
  
The raid was launched to investigate whether the piggery’s operators had breached the 2002 Animal Welfare Act.

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