Animals in British Farming

Overview

This is an introduction into how animals are treated within the British animal agriculture industry. It covers the living conditions of each animal as well as common farming practices.

Pigs

Pigs are the third most commonly consumed animal in the United Kingdom. Pig farming is typically separated into grower pigs which are raised for their flesh and sow pigs which are repeatedly impregnated to birth grower pigs.

Living Conditions

Almost all pigs are kept on factory farms

Age at Death

Almost all pigs are killed between 4-6 months old

Grower pigs

4-6 months

Breeding pigs

3-5 years

Birth

Natural life expectancy

Kill Method

Most pigs are suffocated in gas chambers, then have their throats slit

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Chickens, Ducks and Turkeys

Chickens are the most consumed animal in the United Kingdom with approximately 1.12 billion bred each year. Most flesh is produced from broiler chickens with the remainder coming from egg laying hens that are no longer considered profitable.

Living Conditions

Almost all chickens are raised on factory farms

Age at Death

All chickens are killed at a fraction of their natural lifespan

Factory farmed chickens

35 days

Free range chickens

56 days

Organic chickens

81 days

Birth

Natural life expectancy

Kill Method

A majority of chickens are put into gas chambers and then their throats are cut

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Dairy Cows

Cow's milk is produced by specifically bred dairy cows with each one averaging 8,004 liters of milk per year. For a dairy cow to produce milk they must have been impregnated and given birth.

Living Conditions

Dairy cows are kept in a broad variety of conditions from outdoor pasture to intensive indoor farms

23%Other

Age at Death

Dairy cows are killed when their milk production declines

Females

6 years

Culled males

1 day

Veal males

6-8 months

Birth

Natural life expectancy

Kill Method

A majority of cows and bulls are killed with bolt guns

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Laying Hens

Each year around 12 billion eggs are consumed in the United Kingdom. These eggs come from specifically bred laying hens that produce up to 250 eggs per year.

Living Conditions

A majority of hens are kept in either free range or caged barns

Age at Death

All laying hens are killed at around 72 weeks old

Free range laying hens

72 weeks

Caged laying hens

72 weeks

Male laying hens

1 hour

Birth

Natural life expectancy

Kill Method

Almost all spent laying hens are put into gas chambers and then their throats are cut

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99% of chicks born male
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Cattle

Cows and bulls are the second most commonly consumed animals in the United Kingdom. Around half of the production comes from dairy cows that are no longer considered profitable, with the other half coming from animals specifically bred for their flesh.

Living Conditions

Likely to be mostly outdoors

No data is available for the living conditions of bulls and cows, but it is likely to be mostly outdoors

Age at Death

A majority of bulls and cows used for their flesh are killed before 2 years of age

Cows

21 months

Birth

Natural life expectancy

Kill Method

A majority of bulls and cows are shot in the head with bolt guns

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