ARI Projects and Issues

Sow stalls and tethers or 'gestation crates', are two similar systems for keeping pregnant pigs in close confinement. In both systems, the sow is prevented from being able to exercise or even turn round for nearly four months at a time. Her entire 16 and a half-week pregnancy is spent in a narrow metal-barred stall that is barely bigger than the sow herself. Bedding material is not normally provided.

ARI's response to this issue: ARI approached the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), urging them to cease support of gestation crates and other abusive industry practices. We ran a series of New York Times advertisements, attended meetings, and Peter Singer met with the AVMA board regarding their stance on these practices. Since we began approaching them, the hog and veal industries have taken initiatives that mean their animal welfare standards are actually higher than those recommended by the AVMA. This progress is entirely due to pressure from animal rights advocates, including ARI.

For many years, ARI lobbied McDonald’s to stop buying pig products from producers who keep sows in crates. This work paid off when Smithfields, which has more sows in crates than any other producer in the world, agreed to begin a 10-year phase out of this method of keeping its sows. Smithfield’s acknowledged, in a press release, that pressure from a major customer was a factor. McDonald’s is Smithfield’s biggest customer.

In 2008, a landmark initiative passed in California. Prop 2 addresses the treatment of animals on factory farms, requiring that these farms provide enough space for animals to stand, turn around and extend their limbs. Within the limits of its modest budget, and legal constraints on the use of our funds for political purposes, ARI gave financial support to the "yes" campaign on this important measure.

Battery cages are wire cages for egg-laying hens. They are so small that the hens cannot stretch their wings out fully, so barren they have no nest for their eggs, and so restricting that the birds' bones often become so brittle they can snap like dry twigs. Cages may be stacked up to 9 tiers high, with as many as 90,000 birds caged in one windowless building.

ARI's response to this issue: ARI bought space on the side of New York City buses, and launched a billboard-style ad reading, “Cages are cruel. Demand cage-free eggs.” The ad also listed ARI’s name and website address. The full impact of this is not measurable, however we are confident that tens of thousands of people witnessed this simple, powerful message at least once. A local radio station assisted with publicity through their interview with Peter Singer.

Prop 2, mentioned above, goes into effect in 2015 and will mean that the standard battery cage becomes illegal in California. In the meantime, it sets the groundwork for other similar projects requiring that animals on factory farms are able to satisfy at least their most basic needs.

Over the last several years, ARI has also supported campaigns that have achieved tangible progress in dining halls at several universities, including NYU, UCLA, UC Irvine, Eastern Michigan University, the University of Oregon, Brandeis, the University of Vermont and Columbia. Often with cooperation from student groups, ARI has placed ads and launched other initiatives to encourage a transition to cage-free or organic eggs. The response has been largely positive, with UC Irvine now using only organic eggs, and NYU incorporating cage-free eggs into their menu options. The University of Vermont and Brandeis are considering such changes as well. ARI is currently creating an associated poster that students can hang in dining halls. We continue to offer support to student groups by writing letters and providing guidance as needed. ARI is also considering producing a TV ad focusing on relevant issues.

Veal crates are narrow, solid-sided wooden boxes for rearing surplus dairy calves for slaughter. The crates are so narrow that the incarcerated calf cannot turn around for much of its life. Deprived of exercise, some can barely walk to slaughter at 4-6 months old. Crated calves are fed an all-liquid, iron-deficient diet to produce the pale, anemic 'white' veal prized by gourmets.

ARI's response to this issue: Once again, Prop 2 will ban this practice in California, and the vote here, as well as an earlier vote banning veal crates in Arizona, has sent a message to producers. As a result, some major American veal producers are phasing out veal crates.