Fully slatted flooring for pigs will be abolished – full slatted flooring for cattle will remain?

The VGT campaign shows that there is no objective justification for this unequal treatment; both animal species suffer equally from this same form of husbandry

Vienna (OTS) – Although there is talk of completely slatted flooring for pigs being abolished until 2040, it is clear that the government is of the opinion that this form of husbandry is unacceptable because the animals suffer too much. The Constitutional Court even recognized the length of the transition period as unconstitutional. But what about the cattle? 70% of beef cattle have to live on the same completely slatted floor, and Agriculture Minister Totschnig even said at the “Ask the Minister” event that this will also have to be changed. But there is neither a ban on new buildings nor an expiry date for existing businesses. The legislature is obliged to only treat things differently if there is an objective justification for doing so. What could it look like in this case? Scientifically it shows that 92% of pigs and 100% of cattle Develop painful joint inflammations on fully slatted floors.

In order to point out this factually unjustified unequal treatment of pigs and cattle, the VGT today placed a life-sized pig and a life-sized cattle figure on an original full slatted floor from pig and cattle fattening. The space offered to the two animal species is also the same relative to their body size, as can be seen. “Two animals – one suffering” read one banner and “Abolish slatted floors!”

VGT chairman DDr. Martin Balluch: “Why is the fully slatted floor for pigs banned, but not for fattening cattle? Why are dairy cows, heavily pregnant cows, breeding bulls and calves up to 150 kg not allowed to be kept on fully slatted floors, but fattening cattle are? What justifies this unequal treatment? In reality, the public pressure from the VGT campaign was so great to ban fully slatted flooring for pigs, but not for cattle. And the truth is that milk production and breeding are economically worth more than beef production. But these are not objective reasons for this unequal treatment that would endure. The fully slatted floor must also be abolished for fattening cattle!“

Press photos (Copyright: VGT.at)

Questions & Contact:

VGT – ASSOCIATION AGAINST ANIMAL FACTORIES
DDr. Martin Balluch
Campaign management
01 929 14 98
media@vgt.at
https://vgt.at