SAVE BABE: Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights (BOAR) representatives Bob Harry, Pauline Bakker, Jenny Moxham, Lynn Trakell and Stella MahoneyMONBULK’s Main Street was the site of an animal rights protest last Monday, 18 July.
Members of the Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights (BOAR) were encouraging residents to sign postcards titled ‘Help Ban Sow Stalls’, which were later given to Monbulk MP James Merlino to be sent to Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron urging him to ban pig farms deemed inhumane by animal rights groups.
BOAR representative and Monbulk resident Jenny Moxham said people were generally unaware of what was labelled ‘intensive farming’ of pigs.
“Intensive farming, or factory farming, is where the animals spend their entire lives inside big warehousetype sheds and never see daylight or sunshine, and never breath fresh air.”
Ms Moxham said BOAR was opposed to intensive pig farming because it was cruel.
“I guess I am opposed to anything that causes animal suffering.
“This is extremely cruel, they are in there only to breed and stay in these factory farms for a number of years.”
BOAR spokesperson Pam Ahern said people could help the group’s cause by purchasing free range pork products.
Mr Merlino said he was an animal lover but feeding consumers would present a challenge in banning sow stalls.
“If enough consumers purchase free range products it hopefully has an impact on how it is produced in the first place.
“But there is also a balance; we are a nation of 20 million people which consumes a lot of food. There is an expectation from us as consumers that there be a lot of beef lamb and pork on the market.
“That is the challenge we face, and I will certainly be raising the issue with the minister.”
