Farm Animal Voice 195

Issue 195 – Winter 2015

COW ON TOUR Your campaign takes Europe by storm

OUR INSPIRATION! Remarkable supporters going the extra mile for farm animals

INSIDE: Together we are making caged farming history

I S S U E 19 5

FARM ANIMAL VOICE CONTENTS

UPDATE 4 News update 6 Cow on Tour On the campaign trail to fight Europe’s live export trade 15 Your success!

Europe stays a No Clone Zone INSIGHT 18 Harnessing the power of big business ...to change millions of lives INSPIRATION 14 Turning memories into support How to make a gift of Compassion

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20 Compassion in Italy Meet your tenacious team ACTION 8 Pig-Gate: the real scandal Taking the UK government to task on antibiotic misuse 10 Cruel. Unnecessary. History.

Ending the cage age across Europe 16 NEW! YOUR FARM TOY It’s time to get your hands dirty 22 You are remarkable!

Thank you for another year of Compassionate fundraising!

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Editor Richard Brooks Production manager Sarah Bryan Design Neo – weareneo.com Farm Animal Voice Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK Enquiries Tel +44 (0)1483 521 950 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm) Email supporters@ciwf.org Compassion in World Farming is a registered charity (England and Wales), registered number 1095050.

Our Patrons Jilly Cooper OBE, Peter Egan, Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan, Dame Penelope Keith DBE, Bruce Kent, Joanna Lumley OBE, Jonathon Porritt CBE, The Duchess of Richmond, Sir Crispin Tickell GCMG KCVO Front cover: © iStock

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WELCOME

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END THE CAGE AGE CAMPAIGN ON TOUR

Welcome to your Christmas edition of Farm Animal Voice, an inspiring look at how you – through your support, your actions and your generosity – are transforming the lives of millions of farm animals.

As I reflect on 2015, I can’t help but be amazed at just how truly remarkable you are. The unrelenting commitment of Compassion supporters to making a better world for farm animals is evident in every story featured in our magazine.

Together, we are fighting the biggest form of animal cruelty on the planet: factory farming. But you are changing hearts and minds; from the person on the street to huge corporations; across Europe, around the world.

Your dedication and commitment mean so much. To farm animals.

To Compassion.

With my very best wishes for a Happy Christmas. I can’t wait to find out what you will achieve for farm animals in 2016.

Thank you.

Philip Lymbery Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming

SUMMER RAFFLE WINNERS Thank you everyone who took part in Compassion’s summertime raffle earlier this year.

Your support for our vital work with the food industry is changing the lives of millions of farm animals around the world (see page 18), right now, and for years to come. Thank you.

Congratulations to the winners!

1st prize: £2,000: Mrs Twigger, Hull. 2nd prize: £500: Mr Roberts, Nottingham.

Seller’s prize: £500: R. Akyildiz, London Runners up, £100 each: Mrs Clough, Wallasey; Miss Thomas, Runcorn; Mrs Mitchell, York; Mrs Cole, Shrewsbury; Mr Rich, Ely; Mrs Davis, Kendal; Mrs Taylor, Wolverhampton; Mrs Clark, Gerrards Cross; Mrs Brooksbank, Thurso; A. Sadowska, London.

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U P DATE

©Gabriella Cooper

FACTORY FARMING & CANCER In October, a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) made global headlines by classifying processed meats, such as ham and sausages, as carcinogenic.

The report states that each 50g portion of processed meat eaten daily (equivalent to two rashers of bacon) increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.

Compassion has long highlighted the negative impacts of industrial livestock production on human health.

Very high levels of red and processed meat consumption are largely made possible by factory farming. This in turn can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, as well as causing certain cancers.

The WHO report is just the latest in a series of studies that all point to an urgent need to address rampant meat consumption and industrial livestock production. Not just to end the suffering caused to billions of animals, but also to protect our health.

YOUR FILM WINS AWARD!

Compassion’s Joyce D’Silva (centre) receives an honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) from Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Chancellor of the University of Winchester, and Professor Joy Carter, the Vice-Chancellor.

THE START OF A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP Earlier this year, Compassion formed a new strategic partnership with the University of Winchester, UK. Together we aim to drive more meaningful awareness and understanding of animal welfare – amongst academia, students and the wider world.

“We are delighted to fortify our partnership with Compassion in World Farming,” said University Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter.

“Animal welfare is in my DNA, and the charity’s values resonate with the ethos of the University’s new Centre for Animal Welfare. Together we hope to increase society’s knowledge and understanding of animal welfare issues.”

The University is already leading the way with its on-campus catering, striving to source only free-range, organic and local meat and dairy. To that end, the University is a multiple Compassion award-winner for its higher animal welfare sourcing policies.

In addition to the exciting partnership, CEO, Philip Lymbery received a University of Winchester visiting professorship and Joyce D’Silva, Ambassador for Compassion, was awarded an honorary doctorate for her lifetime’s work in animal welfare.

THE TRUE COST OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE

Our End the Cage Age campaign film was recently awarded at this year’s EVCOM Clarion awards.

Funded entirely by our supporters, the film (entitled Time to Decide) takes the viewer on a journey through history and shows how each generation must decide what cruelty and injustice it will tolerate.

More than 12 million people have viewed this film online at ciwf.org.uk/cages

Industrialised farming practices cost the environment some $3.33 trillion per year – more than the UK’s annual Gross domestic product (GDP) – according to new research released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Forest clearance for beef production in Brazil and the impacts of pork production in China were cited as two areas of animal farming with the biggest environmental price tag.

The research identifies a range of more sustainable farming practices that could greatly reduce the cost

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of environmental impacts and help countries cope with the challenge of producing food sustainably.

This startling new report demands to not only be read, but acted upon. It shows that profit margins for farms using organic techniques are higher, while the environmental costs are significantly lower.

Keeping animals in confinement and rearing them on grain from chemical-soaked monocultures really needs to be a thing of the past if we are to meet the challenge of feeding a growing population.

U P DATE

FAREWELL SIR PETER O’SULLEVAN MUCH-LOVED COMPASSION PATRON Sir Peter O’Sullevan, who has died aged 97, spent his life as a renowned BBC commentator and writer. He was also a dedicated campaigner for farm animal welfare.

In the 1990s, Sir Peter was a regular presence on the streets as we campaigned against live exports.

He would often come along to protest – not seeking publicity or camera, just being there. Around that time, he happily agreed to become a Compassion patron.

When he retired from the BBC, he continued to support Compassion

via the incredible work of his charitable trust, annual fundraising luncheon and sales of Christmas cards. Most recently, and even throughout periods of poor health, Sir Peter was to be found buying up copies of our book, Farmageddon, and distributing copies to give to friends who visited him at home or in hospital.

Those of us who met Sir Peter have all been touched by his honesty, warmth and great sense of humour.

Compassion mourns his passing and thanks him for his commitment to the welfare of farm animals.

CHRISTMAS CARD This year’s Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s Charitable Trust Christmas card is available in packs of 10 with plain envelopes for £8.00 (plus p&p).

The message inside reads HAPPY CHRISTMAS. Please post your order to: Agnes Zauner, Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, 63 Rosendale Road, London, SE21 8DY. Tel: 020 8333 1411. Email: mail@red.media.uk.com

COMPASSION HOSTS FREE LUNCH In September, Compassion, in coalition* with other NGOs and MEPs, defied the saying that ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’, by serving over 1,000 meals to Members of the European Parliament, staff and visitors.

The meal, prepared and served with the help of volunteers, was free from artificial additives and GMOs, did not contain animal products, and used up food that would otherwise be thrown away. We wanted to draw attention to our broken global food system and dispel the myth that we need more factory farming to feed the world.

Olga Kikou, our European Affairs Manager said:

“There is an urgent need for the EU to develop a food policy that addresses the adverse impacts of our current food system on animals, people’s health and the environment.”

Factory farming is all-too-often viewed as the cheap, efficient solution to feeding our world. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. For every 100 food calories of edible crops fed to livestock, we get back just 30 calories in the form of meat and dairy; a 70% loss. In short, people are being forced to compete with farm animals for food. * The Free Lunch event was co-organised by Compassion in World Farming, Humane Society International, Food for Life Global, Beyond GM and the European Parliament’s Sustainable Food Systems Group.

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SAPIENS A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMANKIND Author: Yuval Noah Harari Vintage Books, 2014.

It’s not often that a book comes along that really takes your breath away – but Sapiens is just such a book. Better still, it is amazingly easy to read.

Harari takes every presumption we have about the history of humankind and turns it upside down. He views the agricultural revolution as a mixed blessing, if not an ultimate disaster.

Former foragers became peasants, engaged from dawn to dusk in back-breaking toil. New diseases, originating in domesticated animals, engulfed communities. Populations began to grow, ruling elites developed, cities were built but, for the majority, life remained tough.

Harari’s roundest condemnation is reserved for what we have done over the years to the animals we farm: for animals, the agricultural revolution was “a terrible catastrophe”.

The book’s embrace is wide, from capitalism to empire and religion to science – all subjects looked at in a novel way. It’s not surprising that Sapiens has become a global bestseller; and Harari is speaking to packed audiences everywhere.

Compassion absolutely agrees with his view of modern industrial agriculture which, he declares, “might well be the greatest crime in history”.

Harari has twice won the Polonsky Prize for Creativity and Originality and he has created an online course on the history of humankind.

U P DATE

ONE COW, EIGHT CITIES Around 3 million farm animals are exported alive out of the EU for slaughter, fattening, or breeding every year. These horrendously long journeys typically take animals from a place where there are laws to protect their welfare, to countries where they receive little or no protection.

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hanks to the generosity of our heroic supporters, Compassion in World Farming has been able to continue investigating and exposing this atrocious disregard for life.

TAKE ACTION

Stepping up our campaign to get justice for Europe’s farm animals, Compassion’s campaign team recently visited seven major European cities with a life-size model sculpture of a cow (pictured opposite), raising public awareness about this vile, and largely hidden, trade.

COW ON TOUR Our model cow was inspired by the animals that Compassion staff have witnessed first-hand during previous investigations into the live animal export trade – and was funded by our wonderful supporters.

Compassion’s online campaigns are vital – they can help us to gather tens of thousands of petition signatures in a matter of days.

If you would like to receive notification of our latest campaigns, demonstrations and petitions by email, please fill in your email details on the donation form at the bottom of the enclosed letter.

THANK YOU.

Our cow started her journey in central London on 9th October, joined by Harry Potter stars,

Evanna Lynch (who was also the first to sign our cow!) and Robbie Jarvis, and MEP Jean Lambert.

Before our cow moved on to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw, Prague and Rome, our London protestors hand-delivered a letter to the London office of the European Commission, demanding action to end live exports.

The tour culminated outside the European Commission in Brussels on 17th November, where we handed in the petition.

The campaign generated a great deal of media attention, and gathered over 160,000 signatures from the streets of Europe and online.

The message is clear: the people of Europe are demanding action. Europe’s policymakers must now respond and end the trade, once and for all.

PARIS

LONDON

WARSAW

Our Cow on Tour started off in London, travelling to Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Prague and Rome, gathering signatures of support and media attention all the way.

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“If the Commission is serious about better regulation, then one of the things they can be doing is actually banning the live animal export trade. That is genuinely better regulation, it’s popular regulation, it’s what people want to see.”

Jean lambert, MEP

"I feel incredibly strongly about ending live exports; I think there are so many people throughout Europe, who – if they knew that this was going on, if they saw it – they just wouldn’t condone it."

Evanna Lynch, actor Harry Potter stars, Evanna Lynch and Robbie Jarvis, kickstart the Cow on Tour protest in London.

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ACTION

We must fight the reckless abuse of farm animals and antibiotics.

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ACTION

PIG-GATE: THE REAL SCANDAL Allegations about David Cameron and a university prank involving a dead pig flooded the UK media earlier this year. But the real issue is his inaction on the plight of factory farmed pigs, and the reckless use of antibiotics to prop up a broken food system.

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ince 2003, it has been a legal requirement in Europe to provide pigs with straw or other similar material to root in and explore. The same legislation also prohibits routine tail-docking. Yet, over the past 12 years, successive UK Prime Ministers have failed to properly enforce this law.

Thank you so much to everyone who has generously donated in response to Compassion’s fight against the reckless use of antibiotics that props up factory farm cruelty. If you haven’t already done so, please consider giving a gift today.

As a result, every year around one-third of British pigs are reared in abysmal, often cramped, and sometimes illegal conditions. Their surroundings are barren; slatted floors don’t allow straw. Bored and frustrated, these intelligent animals often fight and bite each other.

Visit ciwf.org.uk/reckless to find out more.

THE REAL SCANDAL What is more, the UK government is allowing this cruelty to be sustained by the abuse of increasingly precious antibiotics. The foul, crowded conditions in factory farms lead to an increased risk of to disease outbreaks. So vast amounts of drugs are being routinely fed to pigs and other farm animals, even before they become sick. Such misuse of medicines on farms also puts people at risk, creating excellent conditions for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacteria that can cause serious human infections.

That is why Compassion is proud to be a founding member of The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics*.

With help from supporters like you, The Alliance is lobbying the UK government and European bureaucrats, demanding strong measures to curb antibiotic use in farm animals and kinder farming systems which reduce the need for drugs in the first place. You can send your own message to Europe at ciwf.org.uk/BreakThe System

* The Alliance to Save our Antibiotics was founded by Compassion in World Farming, the Soil Association and Sustain and is supported by the Jeremy Coller Foundation.

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ACTION

Our bold and ambitious campaign has a simple aim: end caged farming across 28 countries in Europe.

No animal should be confined to a life of needless suffering.

James West, Compassion’s Cage Age campaign manager, reports.

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hanks to the backing of our supporters, the first 12 months of our campaign have seen a stunning wave of protest against caged farm cruelty across Europe.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL On your behalf, the team has been active on the streets of Europe’s major cities. If cages don’t belong in farms, then where should we put them? Answer: a museum, where they can be consigned to history. In September, we delivered farm cages to museums in seven European countries, to highlight that cages have no place in the 21st century and should be museum pieces, not tools of ‘modern’ farming.

RABBITS DON’T BELONG IN CAGES In The Netherlands, our team organised a ‘Love Lock’ tour.

A giant rabbit cage has been on display in several Dutch cities and members of the public have been asked to write a message of support on a padlock and attach it to the cage as a visual show of solidarity against cages. The keys will be sent to the Dutch Agriculture Minister and he will be asked to symbolically unlock the cage.

Meanwhile, in Poland, our team ran a ‘find the caged rabbit’ initiative, where clues were given about the location of images of rabbits, strategically placed across Warsaw, for members of the public to find. The rabbits were designed by Rafał Wechterowicz, a celebrated Polish artist and illustrator.

CIWF Polska’s ‘find the caged rabbit’ campaign took to the streets of Warsaw.

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CZECH REPUBLIC

ENGLAND

ITALY

THE NETHERLANDS

Our End the Cage Age advert will appear outside 100 railway stations across The Netherlands in December.

RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS In July, Compassion’s Dutch team entered an advertising competition with their hard-hitting advert campaigning to End the Cage Age (pictured above in English).

It was designed to raise public awareness about the suffering caused by intensive rabbit farming. The prize for the winning advert was free publicity in a national newspaper worth 75,000 euros.

Sadly, the advert wasn’t selected but, undeterred, the Dutch team set about putting plans into place to go ahead with an outdoor advertising campaign instead. Following an email appeal to help fund the printing and billboard spaces, more than 550 supporters raised enough money for the campaign to launch!

Thanks to the crowdfunding success, the advert will appear on 100 railway billboards across The Netherlands throughout December. Readers will be asked to sign Compassion’s online rabbit petition; and urged not to eat rabbit meat at Christmas, when rabbit is a traditional part of the festive menu in The Netherlands.

CAN YOU HELP US REACH 500,000?

Our caged rabbit campaign petition has now been signed by more than 328,774 people!

If you haven’t already signed, it’s not too late!

You can also ask friends and family to sign the online petition at ciwf.org.uk/rabbits

THIS FILM IS AN EXPERIMENT There are many different versions of yourself that you portray, to your family, your friends, colleagues and to people you don’t know. But there is only one real you. And that is the person who you look at in the mirror when brushing your teeth before going to bed each night. This is the argument behind our latest campaign film – funded entirely by our supporters.

The film encourages people to stand up and take action against caged farming by asking the viewer to consider who they really are and make the choice between action or inaction. Maybe – just maybe – the choice they make will help change the world! You can see the film yourself at ciwf.org.uk/experiment

GERMANY DITCHES MORE FARM CAGES Good news! In October 2015, Germany announced that it would be requiring farmers of egg laying hens to phase out the use of all “enriched” cages by 2025.

This is a major step forward for laying hen welfare in the country, and we hope it will encourage other countries to make similar changes – sooner rather than later.

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SO WHERE ARE ALL THE CAGES? POSITION

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The table below explains, at a glance, the best to worst countries for caged farming across Europe (rabbits, hens and mother pigs).

COUNTRIES

LAYING HENS

MOTHER PIGS

RABBITS

SWEDEN No sows are caged A quarter of hens are caged (No significant rabbit farming) LUXEMBOURG

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No hens are caged Nearly all sows are caged (No significant rabbit farming)

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BELGIUM Phasing out cages for rabbits and hens Around half of all hens are caged Nearly all sows are caged Nearly all rabbits are caged

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AUSTRIA AND GERMANY Phasing out cages for hens A small proportion of hens are caged Nearly all sows and rabbits are caged UNITED KINGDOM

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Less than half of hens are caged Around half of sows are caged (No significant rabbit farming)

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Around half of hens are caged Nearly all sows are caged (No significant rabbit farming)

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Nearly all hens are caged (No significant rabbit or sow farming)

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A small proportion of hens are caged Almost all sows are caged Almost all rabbits are caged

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Most hens are caged Almost all sows are caged Almost all rabbits are caged

DENMARK, FINLAND & IRELAND

CROATIA

NETHERLANDS

CZECH REPUBLIC, FRANCE, ITALY, POLAND

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BULGARIA, CYPRUS, ESTONIA, GREECE, HUNGARY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MALTA, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA & SPAIN Most hens are caged Almost all sows are caged Almost all rabbits are caged

Source: This table is based on data sourced from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2015).

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I N S P I R AT I O N

TWO LIVES UNITED IN COMPASSION Lifelong Compassion supporters, John and Betty Edwards, shared a love of animals and outdoor life.

Their daughter, Rebecca, remembers the day her father came home from his work on a farm with a tiny piglet who the family adopted and raised. That was the start of many animals joining their family and Rebecca has fond memories of a happy home, full of rescued wildlife and fostered farm animals.

Betty abhorred any sort of animal cruelty and spent much of her spare time raising money for charities she felt really helped animals. Over the years, she raised valuable funds for Compassion from car boot sales and high street collections.

When John passed away, Betty asked friends and family to make a donation to Compassion instead of sending flowers. And when Betty sadly died earlier this year, her family kindly decided to commemorate her life in the same way.

We are so grateful that, through these poignant gifts, Betty and John’s family turned their memories into support for animals.

If you’d like more information about paying tribute to someone special, please visit ciwf.org.uk/inmemory or feel free to contact Hannah Child: Tel: +44 (0)1483 521 953 or Email: inmemory@ciwf.org.uk 14

I N SUPPID RA AT TE ION

SUCCESS! EUROPE STAYS A NO CLONE ZONE We’re thrilled that, in September, the European Parliament voted to ban farm animal cloning. It also voted to outlaw the sale of meat or milk from clones or their descendants, and to ban cloned animals being imported into Europe.

Alex Jackson, Head of European Campaigns reports.

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he cloning of animals causes great suffering, both for the cloned animals and for the surrogate mothers that carry them to birth. Cloned embryos tend to be large and, if not miscarried, can result in painful births – a high proportion of which have to be carried out by Caesarean section. Those that survive do not lead a happy life; a significant proportion die in the early days or weeks of life from problems such as heart, liver and kidney failure, respiratory problems and weak immune systems.

The European Parliament vote against cloning is critically important.

This fantastic success was only possible because Compassion supporters in their thousands, called on their MEPs to vote in support of these urgent measures.

This vote was your achievement.

WHAT’S NEXT? To progress into law, these proposals to ban cloning must now be supported by the 28-strong European Council of Ministers, and the European Commission.

But worryingly, some EU countries, including Britain, want to see cloning legalised and will be doing

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everything they can to stop the proposals agreed by the European Parliament from going ahead.

On your behalf, our team is busy behind the scenes, putting in the hours to identify our allies and work out which Member States could derail this vital legislation. Then we’ll pile on the pressure to make sure that governments throughout Europe abide by the democratic process which has come out firmly in opposition to cloning. And if needed, we will call on you again to help ensure that Europe remains a No Clone Zone.

Thank you. ciwf.org

INSIGHT

YOUR FARM: IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY With children’s toys, books and cartoons often painting a rose-tinted view of farming, one could be forgiven for thinking that all farm animals live a happy life.

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he truth, of course, is that the farms portrayed by toys are sadly in the minority. In fact, as many as two out of every three farm animals spend their lives inside factory farms, routinely deprived of a life worth living. And we think it’s time the truth was told.

It’s a powerful symbol of the way intensively reared animals are treated. Supported by an interactive website (www.yourfarmtoy.com), YOUR FARM shows the wider impacts of this broken farming system, including pollution and destruction of the rainforest to grow animal feed.

AN HONEST TOY

PROGRESS SO FAR Since its launch in July, journalists, celebrities and almost 17,000 online supporters have come together to join Compassion’s movement of farm fixers. We will be taking YOUR FARM to leading figures responsible for agricultural policy across Europe, urging them to recognise that the fairy tale is over.

That’s why we’ve created YOUR FARM – The Honest Farm Toy*. It’s a brand new prototype ‘toy’ that turns the iconic farmyard fairy tale firmly on its head. YOUR FARM features rows of tightly packed chickens, pigs and cows, as well as some of the crazy paraphernalia used in factory farming – from cages and antibiotics to fertilisers and soy-based feed. This lunchbox-sized toy reveals the nightmarish reality that exists behind closed factory farm doors.

We, and the next generation, deserve honest farming that considers the impact on animals, people, and our planet.

YOUR FARM* is really making waves on social media. Our Twitter campaigners spreading the message include actors Carley Stenson, Evanna Lynch and Peter Egan – who is also a Compassion patron.

*Please note, YOUR FARM is not a ‘real toy’ and is not for sale.

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“LOTS OF KIDS PLAY WITH BARNYARD TOYS, BUT THE REALITY OF FACTORY FARMS ISN’T AS ROSY.” Adweek

Featuring rows of tightly packed farm animals, YOUR FARM* reveals the nightmarish reality that exists behind closed doors. But it can 'be fixed' to reveal lush pasture and ample space for the toy animals.

INSIGHT

HARNESSING THE POWER OF BIG BUSINESS Leading companies that produce the food we eat have enormous influence over the way in which farm animals are reared and slaughtered.

They can move faster and more decisively than politicians or policymakers when it comes to driving improvements. The scale of change can be vast and can benefit millions of animals, each and every year.

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our support helps us harness this power and influence big business to ensure millions of farm animals lead better lives.

McDonald’s recent announcement to move to cage-free eggs across the US and Canada over the next 10 years is monumental, not only for the millions of hens in their supply chain – especially in the US where there is little legislation to protect farmed animals – but also for the ripple effect it is having across the industry. When big brands make a move, it really does make a difference.

McDonald’s received a Good Egg Award from Compassion in 2008 for using cagefree whole eggs throughout Europe; and McDonald’s New Zealand and Australia also announced they will be using only cage-free eggs by the end of 2016 and 2017 respectively. Their higher welfare journey has rippled across their business but has also led to other companies in the market following suit.

Soon after the McDonald’s announcement, Hickman’s Family Farms – one of the biggest egg producers in North America – announced a major cage-free expansion to their business for over two million hens.

Then in November, leading fast food company in the US, Panera Bread, became the latest restaurant chain to announce that by 2020 it will no longer buy eggs from farmers keeping their hens in cages. Panera’s policy will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of hens supplying their 120 million eggs every year.

McDonald’s decision to go cagefree with their eggs will positively affect the lives of over 7 million hens annually in the US and Canada.

They are doing what is right for animals and what is supported by their customers.

Leah Garcès, US Director, Compassion in World Farming

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There have also been other similar cage-free announcements by Compass, Aramark and Sodexo.

Our work with these leading companies is showing dividends.

No true business with integrity, or a future, is going to let cages or crates stay in their supply chain. In 2012, McDonald’s US hit the headlines when it announced that its pork would be sourced from farmers that do not use gestation crates (sow stalls) for housing pregnant sows by 2022. Following this announcement, dozens of companies followed suit, including Panera Bread who has already stated that all of their pork is now gestation crate free.

By working with the big players in key markets, we can and are changing the lives of millions of farm animals – in Europe, and beyond.

But it is your support that keeps this work going.

INSIGHT

©Barton Dairy Farm

IT’S NOT ONLY THE BIG BRANDS THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! Since the start of 2015, over 11,000 animals will now benefit each year from the higher welfare policies of smaller businesses and public sector organisations.

Good Dairy Award winner Barton Farm Dairy in North Devon is very mindful of how its customers feel about the way animals are looked after and ensures the utmost welfare for its organic dairy herd.

Its cows are loved and cherished and even named!

All of the old ‘granny cows’ get to live out a long and happy life in retirement and help to look after the calves. Calves are nursed on their mums, as nature intended, and are then reared in social groups with their older foster mums until they re weaned.

The farm breeds all of its replacement heifers who are reared naturally on grass; and their bull calves are reared on their mums, then sold to other organic farmers.

17 year-old ‘Snowdrop’ enjoying the summer sun!

SPONSOR AN OLD COW...

Barton Farm Dairy has developed a website where customers can sponsor a granny cow, to ensure they continue to get the best care and attention and live long, happy lives on the farm. To find out more, visit www.ethicalcowcompany.org

free-range pigs. It recognises that the demand for traditional meat with a full-known provenance is growing.

All its Oxford Sandy and Black native breed pigs are reared outdoors for life.

...OR OWN A PIG

West Country Quality Meat even offers an “Own Your Own Pig” scheme, where customers can receive photographs and monthly updates, or even visit their pig!

Good Pig Award winner, West Country Quality Meat, is a small business in Somerset rearing

For more information, visit westcountryqualitymeat.co.uk

Oxford Sandy and Black pigs enjoying a free-range life!

©West Country Quality Meat

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INSIGHT

MEET YOUR TENACIOUS ITALIAN TEAM Italy is renowned for its artisan food and has a proud culture of gastronomy.

Italian meat and dairy delicacies are exported around the world and can command a premium price from shoppers wanting an authentic taste of Italy. What is less known is that an alarmingly high proportion of Italian meat and dairy comes from one of the most intensive agriculture economies in Europe.

The Italian government is very protective of its farming industry and prefers to turn a blind eye when it comes to improving poor animal welfare standards.

© CIWF

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elcome to Italy: a country where factory farming dominates the livestock sector. Italian pig production ranks as one of the worst in Europe from a welfare point of view and almost all dairy cows are reared in “zero grazing” systems. No wonder then that 71% of the antibiotics sold in Italy are given to farm animals.

We estimate that 95% of Italian pig meat (much of it processed, packaged and sold at a premium) comes from factory farms.

Set against this difficult backdrop, Compassion in World Farming’s small but expert Italian team faces a daily uphill battle in its fight against factory farming.

In some cases, such as pigs, Italy doesn’t even consciously enforce existing European animal welfare legislation.

Similarly, the Italian media is known to be very generous to the agrifood industry, partly because it relies on advertising revenue.

In 2014, Compassion provided information for a Sky News Italia report on antibiotic use in chickens.

The programme director introduced the report by saying: “You may have noticed fewer ads on this channel, but our duty is to inform citizens”.

This statement inferred that Sky had been “requested” to withdraw the programme by the poultry industry, under threat of withdrawing advertisement revenue.

We estimate that 99% of the Italian dairy herd (whose milk goes to make so much of Italy’s famous cheese) is denied access to pasture.

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Since 2013, CIWF Italia has been working on your behalf to improve the life of farm animals in Italy – running awareness campaigns about farm animal cruelty, and building an Italian social movement against factory farming.

INSIGHT

YOUR TEAM IN ITALY:

Over the past few years, more than 100,000 people in Italy have supported our campaigns, and the team has ensured that the truth about factory farming has been featured in mainstream Italian newspapers and magazines. They have also launched an Italian translation of Compassion’s global investigation into factory farming, Farmageddon, which has sent shockwaves through the farming industry.

Our efforts to fight back against factory farming in Italy have not gone unnoticed and the Italian agrifood industry has become even more determined to protect its global reputation. It has now launched a series of high-profile, consumer advertising campaigns in which it promotes the ‘sustainability’ of the Italian farming model and the ‘good welfare’ of their animals.

Our response to this? Well, there is a proverb in Italy:

Annamaria is the Head of our Italian team. A long-term animal advocate, she lobbies and engages with Italian politicians.

Her favourite animals are pigs. She finds the cruelty behind Italian hams and continental meats unacceptable.

The suffering of millions of pigs in Italian farms is a “thorn in her heart”.

Elisa engages with food companies to help them improve their animal welfare standards.

By no means a straightforward job, but progress is already being made. For example, she worked with meat manufacturer, Fumagalli, to secure the first ever Italian Good Sow Commendation Award (2015).

Elena is our digital campaigner.

Elena works tirelessly to encourage Italian citizens to speak up for farm animals. As well as overseeing our online campaigning and social media, she speaks to our supporters in Italy every day and is committed to building a powerful movement for change. As a young mum, she is very concerned about the plight of Italian dairy cows, separated early from their calves and forced to produce milk like machines – without ever seeing a blade of grass.

Federica is our media expert. She fights everyday against the collusion between the Italian media and the Italian agro-industry.

Federica seeks out and works with brave journalists who are willing to speak out against factory farming.

Tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare.

Martina is responsible for communications and fundraising – no easy task in an economy like Italy right now. Martina’s goal is to raise the funds we need to deliver the most powerful campaigns possible and start to turn back the tide of factory farming in Italy.

With your support, CIWF Italia will continue the fight against factory farming and cruelty to farm animals.

which broadly translates as An ocean lies between what is said and what is done.

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ACTION

COMPASSION SUPPORTERS ARE REMARKABLE Compassion supporters are a constant inspiration.

Everything you do, no matter how big or small, really does make life a lot better for millions of farm animals. Through acts of generosity, courage and determination, you are spreading Compassion around the world!

WHISKING UP FUNDS FOR FARM ANIMALS

Father Ted and EastEnders actor, Pauline McLynn, kicked off this year’s Bake with Compassion in true Mrs Doyle style! Pauline kindly made a very special video for us preparing organic egg-mayo sandwiches to launch our month-long baking bonanza.

goodies of all shapes and sizes. Thank you to everyone who made it a free-range fundraising month to remember!

If you didn’t get to join in during September, Christmas is a great time to hold a bake sale.

Get in touch with the team if we can help with your festive fundraising.

Staff and supporters alike were inspired, donning aprons and oven gloves to create higher welfare and vegan

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ACTION

KATE GOES 50 MILES FOR

A COMPASSIONATE CHRISTMAS

HER 50 YEARS!

FOR ONE & ALL

Kate Bowen has supported Compassion for most of her life. To celebrate her 50th birthday, she did something heroic for farm animals: a 50 mile, hilly, bike ‘n’ hike around the Lake District!

Instead of receiving birthday presents, Kate asked friends and family to donate to Compassion. At the time of going to print, Kate had raised an amazing £901.78.

Thank you Kate!

We all have that person in our lives who’s impossible to buy for. Rather than giving them another pair of socks why not donate £15 and we’ll send them a handwritten card, badge, certificate and pen, along with three issues of our magazine. Get in touch to make your gift today!

SEND CARDS OF COMPASSION

If you would like to help Kate on her way, please sponsor her online: www.justgiving.com/nifty-at-fifty

Looking for compassionate Christmas cards? We have the perfect solution!

A Winter’s Tale – a stunning painting by generous supporter Debbie Murphy – is raising funds for farm animals this year. Cards are just £5, including P&P (UK only), for a pack of 10. We have limited stock, so get in touch to order yours today.

AND FINALLY...

Kate out and about preparing for her Lake District ‘bike ‘n’ hike’ ride for Compassion!

A ginormous thank you to each and every remarkable one of you for helping farm animals this year. Whether you volunteer, spread the Compassion word, campaign, bake, fundraise or donate – you are helping to end factory farming.

Thank you, and have a very Merry Christmas!

GET IN TOUCH If you would like to support Compassion in any of the ways mentioned above, or you have fundraising ideas of your own, our Supporter Engagement Team is here to help!

Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK TEL: + 44 (0) 1483 521 953 (lines are open 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday) EMAIL: supporters@ciwf.org WEB: ciwf.org

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OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU Compassion in World Farming would not exist without people like you, and we take our responsibilities to you very seriously.

We will never sell, swap, rent or pass on your details to any other organisations for their use.

We will answer queries in a friendly, professional and timely manner.

If you are ever unhappy with something we have done, please let us know so we can address your concerns quickly and appropriately.

If you tell us how you would like to be contacted (or not), we will act promptly on your request.

We will act with integrity and transparency, and never exaggerate any of our claims.

Your donations will be spent wisely and in line with our mission to end factory farming worldwide.

YOU ARE REMARKABLE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR FARM ANIMALS Compassion in World Farming, River Court, Mill Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1EZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1483 521 953 Email: supporters@ciwf.org Web: ciwf.org Compassion in World Farming is a registered charity (England and Wales), registered number 1095050.