Dismantling the factory farms
Factory farms are facilities where most animals are exploited and suffer the worst. What these animals have in common is that they are sentient beings with their own interests and needs, and they should have the right to live their own lives.
Project 1882 works broadly to dismantle factory farms. Through political influence, public awareness campaigns, and corporate engagement, we advocate for the animals that are the most exploited and suffer the worst. In order to reduce the funding that goes to factory farms, we also run the inspirational website "Välj Vego" (Choose Vego), which helps people make the choice to leave animals off their plates.
This is what Project 1882 does to dismantle factory farms:
- Informs the public about the animals’ dire situation. For several years now, Project 1882 has been running an extensive chicken campaign to raise awareness about the conditions in chicken factory farms.
- Puts pressure on politicians and authorities to change laws that affect animals, both in Sweden and at the EU level.
- Influences companies to adopt policies with stronger animal welfare requirements than what is required by the current legislation, such as the European Chicken Commitment.
- Runs the inspirational website "Välj Vego" (Choose Vego) to make it easier for more people to choose plant-based alternatives and exclude animal products from their diets.
On this page
The problem with factory farms
Fast-growing chickens in factory farms grow so fast that they develop mobility issues before the age of five weeks, and cows in dairy factories often suffer from mastitis. Learn more about the issues with factory farms.
Massive scale
Factory farms operate on such a massive scale that animals not only don’t get named, but are measured in kilograms and tons instead of number of individuals. It is cheaper to kill sick individuals rather than providing them with care. Every year, over 12 billion individuals are killed in factory farms in Europe.
Unnatural production
Calves separated from their mothers immediately after birth, pigs that don’t get to root and orphaned chickens overcrowded in tight spaces. The needs of animals are largely overlooked in factory farms. The pursuit of high production has resulted in diseases, suffering and premature death.
Torturous transport and slaughter
The final journey entails significant risks for the animals; crowding, unfamiliar individuals, fear, injuries, hunger, thirst, and extreme temperatures. At the slaughterhouse, they are stunned using painful methods such as carbon dioxide or electric water bath before getting their throats cut.
Chickens
More chickens than any other species of land animals are bred and killed for meat. The growth-oriented breeding has led to chickens growing so rapidly it hurts them and they can be slaughtered for meat at just 35 days old.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 actively works to better the conditions for chickens and to reduce the killing of them. The animal welfare legislation must consider the well-being of chickens and prohibit the breeding of fast-growing so-called Frankenchickens or broilers. But it is urgent and companies need to lead the way now to raise the extremely low standards.
Cows, calves and bulls
In dairy factory farms, calves are normally taken from their mother either immediately or within a day after birth. This separation is stressful and to not be allowed to be together goes against the natural behavior of both the cow and the calf. In Sweden, cows have the right to graze outdoors 2–4 months per year. However, the right to graze is being questioned by parts of the industry and doesn’t include calves and bulls, which means that many animals in dairy and beef factory farms never get to go outside to graze, either in Sweden or in the rest of the world.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 is working towards allowing cows and calves to stay together. We also advocate for the expansion of the right to graze, instead of it being restricted, so that more animals have the right to more outdoor access and grazing. As part of the initiative End the Cage Age we work towards ending the solitary confinement of calves in tight spaces.
Hens and roosters
Through production-oriented breeding and lighting programs, hens have been modified to lay up to one egg per day until their bodies are no longer profitable. The millions of male chicks hatched in European egg factory farms each year are killed on their first day of life.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 actively works to ensure better conditions for hens and to put an end to the killing of male chicks. For example, we have played a leading role in phasing out cages in egg factory farms in both Sweden and the EU, and we will continue until the last cage has been opened.
Pigs
The vast majority of pigs in factory farms never get to go outside and root in the ground. The indoor environments are cramped and barren. Pigs, who are by nature active and curious animals, are kept on hard concrete floors with nothing to stimulate them. The painful method of carbon dioxide stunning is still common and allowed during slaughter.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 works for the right to outdoor access for all pigs and a ban on carbon dioxide stunning during slaughter. At the EU level, we are also working to put an end to tail docking and neutering of pigs.
Fishes
Fish bred in fish factory farms are subjected to significant suffering caused by overcrowding and lack of stimulation in enclosures, stress during handling and painful slaughter. Wild caught fish also experience extreme suffering during capture and afterwards. The most common practice is to leave them to suffocate in the air, after being taken out of the water, or letting them die during gutting while they are still fully conscious.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 works to increase awareness of the fact that fish are living, sentient beings. We advocate for strengthened animal welfare legislation for fish, both in Sweden and at the EU level. The legislation should be species-specific and cover the entire lifespan of the fish. The painful method of carbon dioxide stunning during slaughter must come to an end and even wild-caught fish should be protected by animal welfare laws.
Transport of animals
Most animals in factory farms are transported at least once in their lifetime, typically to the slaughterhouse. Transporting animals poses serious animal welfare risks. The animals are exposed to injuries, fear, difficulties resting, hunger and thirst. They are stressed by being mixed with unfamiliar individuals, crowding, extreme cold or heat and vehicle movements.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 actively works to put an end to the torturous animal transport experience. Among other things, we advocate for a ban on the export of animals to countries outside the EU, shorter transport times, and ultimately a transition from transporting live animals for slaughter and breeding to transporting meat and genetic material.
Slaughter
At the slaughterhouses, the animals are met with a foreign and often frightening environment. As many animals as possible need to be handled in the shortest time possible. The handling process is risky, including unloading, driving, penning, restraining, stunning and bleeding. Painful stunning methods are still widely used, such as carbon dioxide stunning for pigs and fish, and electric water bath stunning for chickens, hens, and turkeys.
It doesn't have to be this way. Project 1882 works towards a future where no animals are bred in factory farms and slaughtered. As long as factory farms and slaughterhouses exist, the systems and handling of animals need to be improved to reduce suffering. Project 1882 advocates for the introduction of end dates when these painful stunning methods will no longer be permitted and for more resources to be allocated to researching better methods.
For a future without factory farms!
Project 1882 is working to dismantle factory farms. Help us in our work!