For the first time ever, undercover footage of
genetically modified pigs has been
obtained by the BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) at
the
recently exposed animal breeding center, Harlan UK, in Belton,
Leicestershire.
The 'transgenic' pigs, whose whereabouts have never
before been publicly
revealed, belong to Imutran, subsidiary of biotech giant Novartis. The
pigs have
been bred with human genes in a crude attempt to make the organs
'rejection
resistant' when transplanted into humans.
The video footage shows piglets kept in plastic weaner
units and slightly older
pigs kept in overcrowded pens. None of the pigs have any access to
sunlight.
The pigs fight viciously with one another, despite instructions by
Imutran to staff
at Harlan UK to use 'anti-fighting' spray on them.
There are, at present, no Government guidelines in place
to govern the welfare of
transgenic pigs. The normal age for weaning pigs is about 80 days old
but these
piglets are separated from their mothers when less than a week old and
shipped
to Belton from another secret breeding center in Scotland. At Harlan UK,
they
are fattened up before being sent to Heathrow and flown around the world
to
form breeding herds in Japan, the United States, Canada and Spain.
Sarah Kite, Head of Research and Investigations at the
BUAV says: "It is
outrageous that the commercial production of transgenic pigs is allowed
to take
place without any government regulations. The findings of our
investigation reveal
major animal welfare concerns and show the stark contrast between the
reality
of living for these pigs and the cozy PR image portrayed by Imutran.
Go on to Scents May
Snuff Out Musk Deer
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