139 pigs perish in Ibaraki fire

National Jan. 03, 2013 - 06:52AM JST ( 8 )

IBARAKI —

A fire killed 139 pigs at a farm in Shimotsuma City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Wednesday morning.

According to police, a neighbor reported part of the pig farm on fire at around 12:40 a.m. TBS reported that it took firefighters about 3 1/2 hours to put out the fire that destroyed a 100-square-meter enclosure containing 200 pigs.

The operator of the pig farm was quoted by police as saying he had set the electric heating unit higher than normal to make it easier for pregnant sows.

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8 Comments

0

mitoguitarmanJan. 03, 2013 - 07:48AM JST

Again? Seems like every year this happens in Ibaraki. Right out of Charles Lamb.
1

Jason StilesJan. 03, 2013 - 08:14AM JST

NOOO! Those poor pigs! They had so much to live for.........they were going to be my breakfest cries
-2

cleoJan. 03, 2013 - 09:12AM JST

a 100-square-meter enclosure containing 200 pigs.

Half a square metre per pig. Just about enough room to stand, not enough room to turn around or lie down stretched out. If he wanted to 'make things easier for pregnant sows' maybe he should have started by giving them a bit more space.
-2

BertieWoosterJan. 03, 2013 - 11:28AM JST

cleo-san,

As you may know, Jamie Oliver took part in a project to see what it was like for pigs kept in the kind of pen you describe. "Human stalls" were built to give the human the same amount of non-room given to pigs. Jamie was in the stall for 22 hours. Pigs are there for 5 years!

Here is what he has to say about the experience:

The human stalls were horrendous to be in. They were very small, with just enough space for us to stand up and sit down on a small seat that was used as a toilet too! Jamie told us that the sows would love these conditions, as the sow stalls would be much smaller than what we were put into!

The human stalls were very uncomfortable and it was impossible for us to get to sleep in. I got terrible back ache from being in there for about 22 hours, which was not long for the sows because they are kept in there for around 5 years! I also know why the sows are mentally damaged, as well as physically, because it is very boring being in one place with hardly any move-ability and no stimulation. I noticed that I was repeating myself with movement, for example; tapping the sides of the stall with my feet or hands.

It was very frustrating being inside the stalls and I found myself becoming irritable and bad tempered. Also, the food they fed us was what can only be described as slop, but apparently very nutritious!
1

lostrune2Jan. 03, 2013 - 02:07PM JST

Smells like.................... bacon?
-1

akkk1Jan. 03, 2013 - 04:32PM JST

It's callous to make jokes about those poor creatures who burned to death
0

Thunderbird2Jan. 03, 2013 - 06:55PM JST

Bertie and Cleo I totally agree with you. Tests on pigs have shown that they are pretty intelligent animals - able to identify colours and solve simple puzzles to get a treat, things like that. It's the fact that more and more animals are being found to have more intelligence than we thought that's turning me into a vegetarian.

Free range animals would have had a means of escape, even if kept in a large barn the doors could be opened and the pigs released. What a horrible way to go.
0

jiml529gtziJan. 04, 2013 - 09:49AM JST

Again? Seems like every year this happens in Ibaraki. Right out of Charles Lamb con