A picture book that reveals the truth behind factory farmed pork.
On a sweltering day in a dusty dark shed,
5 little piggies were born to a lifetime of dread.
The world welcomed these pigs with a stench so foul
That burnt their noses and made them howl.
They wriggled and squirmed on the concrete floor
That was covered in faeces and filth galore.
Fighting to suckle their mother’s teat,
To nestle and settle for that nourishing treat.
But cold metal bars barricaded their way
And alone in the dark was where they would stay.
Unable to move, their mother lay lifeless,
Trapped in a crate full of rats and the likeness.
With a big monster swoop they were lifted into the air,
Dangling by their tails, they screeched in despair.
Sharp razor blades grazed each tail,
With one swift chop they crashed back to jail.
The horror, the cries, the disgust and repulsion
And who said pigs can’t feel any emotion?
With excruciating pain, their tail wounds bled
allowing deadly infections to quickly spread.
Those that survived the horrific suffering
were sprayed with chemicals that left them shuddering.
Watching her babies, some dead and some dying,
the mother was helpless and just lay there crying.
Bright lights flickered on, no longer in darkness,
Which meant he was back, the monster, the heartless.
Arms reached down for the squealing survivors
And threw them down into a cage of sharp wires.
Screaming for her babies as they are taken away,
She will be re-impregnated in only a day.
Slammed down in a pit with not one or two,
But a hundred shrieking piglets and there they grew.
Fattened with hormones and no space to walk,
These piggies grew large to become roast pork.
Piled on shelves under bright buzzing lamps,
Smothered in plastic and sporting pig care stamps.
People poke and people gawk,
Mislead by ‘100% NZ pork’.
Big juicy chops fresh from a farm,
Surely this pig came under no harm?
But our green image with all our farmland
Is not a reality; instead it’s a sham.
Look after the pigs, respect their honour
But farms would rather make a dollar.
What’s done in the dark will be brought to light,
If we take a stand and put up a fight.
Let’s end this cycle of abuse and neglect,
Factory farmed meat we need to reject!
Unless we change what’s on our menu,
Pigs’ torment will still continue.
Be more ethical with what you eat,
Support with your wallet and buy free range meat!
Written by Zoe Cunningham
