Investigation: Pigs eaten alive on farms supplying major brands
- Investigators exposed severe animal cruelty violations at two pig farms in Aragón, Spain.
- Pigs suffered from untreated wounds, disease, and extreme overcrowding. Dead animals were left to rot among the living.
- Footage shows pigs cannibalizing their injured penmates. Many had open wounds, missing or bloodied ears, and painful infections.
- Meat from these farms is sold in Spanish supermarkets. One farm is linked to Piensos Costa, while the other is allegedly connected to Piglets SL—both companies that claim high welfare standards.
- Animal Equality filed a legal complaint and called for the farms to be shut down.
- Following its own inspection, the Government of Aragon took disciplinary action against one of the farms.
- Factory farming is a global crisis. Similar abuse has been documented in the U.S., UK, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and India.
Update February 2025 – After inspecting one of the pig farms exposed by Animal Equality, the Government of Aragon confirmed violations of several laws. Officials have taken disciplinary action, with the farm potentially facing fines and other penalties.
In August 2024, Animal Equality investigated two pig farms in Aragon, an autonomous region in northeastern Spain.
The findings–published in a popular Spanish news outlet called Público–reveal piglets eaten alive, wounded animals left untreated, and decomposing bodies scattered among the living.
Supermarkets linked to investigated farms
One farm, located in Huesca, is reportedly linked to Piensos Costa–a company that boasts about its animal welfare certification.
The second, in Zaragoza, is allegedly owned by Piglets SL–another company that claims high standards. Meat from both farms is commonly sold in Spanish supermarkets.
Cannibalism, rotting corpses, and widespread disease
Inside the farms, pigs lived in constant distress. Some chewed on the open wounds of their penmates. Many had missing or bloodied ears from stress-induced aggression.
In one pen, an injured pig lay on the ground as others bit into their body. The pig screamed and convulsed, but no one intervened. In another case, animals nibbled on a tick-covered piglet who was too weak to stand.
Beyond cannibalism, investigators found pigs suffering from disease and untreated wounds. Many had pus-filled sores on their stomachs and genitals, some so severe they caused deformities.
Infections spread to their hooves, ears, testicles, and legs. Flies swarmed open sores. Some pigs showed signs of gangrene, while others were malnourished. Many engaged in repetitive behaviors called “stereotypies,” a sign of their psychological anguish.
Decomposing lay among the living, with some pigs sniffing and nibbling at the remains. A dead piglet lay near a contaminated water source, putting both animals and the environment at risk.
Meanwhile, another sick pig convulsed on the ground, unable to stand, without veterinary care. Rats scurried through the pens, and rat poison sat within the pigs’ reach. Skeletal remains were found strewn across the farms.
We’re calling on authorities to conduct a full investigation, hold abusers accountable, and take urgent action to end cruelty. This is the result of a system that treats animals as nothing more than commodities for profit. – Javier Moreno, co-founder of Animal Equality
Who is responsible?
Dr. Karen Mancera–an animal welfare expert from the University of Queensland, Australia–reviewed the footage.
She confirmed that overcrowding, untreated wounds, and high rates of cannibalism indicate severe neglect. Poor management, lack of training, and failure to provide basic care worsened conditions.
Animal Equality has filed a complaint, citing serious violations of animal welfare laws. The group is calling for the farms’ closure. If convicted, those responsible could face fines of up to €100,000 (approximately $104,000).
Industrial farming: A global epidemic
Animal Equality has spent over 15 years exposing extreme confinement, neglect, and filth in Spain’s pig industry. Past investigations reveal a pattern of widespread abuse.
Animal protection laws in Spain are rarely enforced. In 2023, just 0.98% of farms were inspected, often with up to 72 hours’ notice.
Nonetheless, Spain is the European Union’s largest pig meat producer and the third largest in the world–behind China and the U.S.
Demand change before more animals suffer
Change happens when the public demands it. Here’s how you can take action:
{firstname}, do your loved ones know the cruelty farmed animals face every day?
Support our investigations, campaigns, and legal work to demand this doesn’t happen anymore.
{firstname}, mother pigs like her spend their lives in cages.
And now, her most basic protections are at risk in the proposed Farm Bill. You can stop it from happening.
He was separated from his mother and led to slaughter for the dairy industry to keep his milk.
Share this campaign to raise awareness and make it stop.
Your signature will support the message calling for the end of factory farming in the United States.
- Sign the petition to ban factory farming in the U.S.
- Join the Animal Protectors to fight corporate cruelty online.
- Rethink what’s on your plate.
Factory farming continues because of demand, but every meal is an opportunity to choose differently. Love Veg–Animal Equality’s plant-based program–makes it easy with simple recipes and a downloadable cookbook.
SAVE ANIMALS FROM ABUSE
Pigs, cows, and other animals feel pain and deserve to be protected from abuse.
You can protect these intelligent animals by simply choosing plant‑based alternatives.
