Pig farm investigation uncovers mutilated piglets, mass grave

• Animal Equality has released its second investigation into Argentina’s factory farming industry–this time on two Buenos Aires pig farms.
• Investigators found piglets’ teeth and tails cut without anesthesia. Males were castrated without veterinary oversight. 
• Mother pigs were confined in cages so small they could not turn around for months. Nearby, dead pigs were left in cages for days.
• Animal Equality has filed a formal complaint with Argentine authorities, citing likely violations of national regulations.
• Officials have confirmed the complaint is under review.

Piglets scream as their teeth are ripped from their mouths. Mother pigs slam their heads against metal bars. Dead bodies rot inside cages.

Investigators filmed these scenes at two pig farms in Buenos Aires Province. The footage comes just months after Animal Equality released its first investigation in Argentina.

Animal Equality has filed a formal complaint with Argentine authorities. But as officials review the evidence, experts say the footage is a warning signal.

Animal cruelty is built into the system, and enforcement often comes too late.

Rotting carcasses and a mass grave

Investigators filmed pigs with open wounds on their faces, teats, and bodies–many of which were infested with flies. No veterinary care was provided.

Some pigs were found dead inside cages, with live animals confined beside them. Other bodies were left near the doorways.

At one farm, workers dragged carcasses across the site and dumped them into a ditch used as a mass grave.

Piglets mutilated without anesthesia

On both farms, workers cut piglets’ tails and castrated males without anesthesia. Investigators also documented teeth clipping, an industry practice used to reduce biting in crowded conditions.

These procedures can cause severe pain and infection. The footage shows workers lifting piglets upside down by one leg while clipping their teeth. The piglets twist and arch as they scream.

Afterward, some piglets tremble. Others struggle to stand or nurse.

Argentine guidelines say mutilations should be limited, done only at very young ages, and carried out with veterinary oversight. 

Investigators recorded them as routine. In many cases, piglets appeared older than the legal age limit. Veterinarians were nowhere to be found. 

Mothers in metal cages

For most of their adult lives, female pigs are confined to narrow metal cages during pregnancy and nursing. For months at a time, they’re unable to turn around or take more than a step forward. 

Investigators filmed pigs with their sides, genitals, and rectums pressed against metal bars, leaving open wounds. 

Other footage shows repetitive behaviors often associated with extreme distress. Some pigs bite the bars. Others bang their heads or move their mouths as if chewing the air.

A continuous breeding cycle

Animal Equality documented the forced impregnation of female pigs, trapping them in a cycle of breeding, cages, and birth. 

Many are pushed to give birth up to three times per year. When their bodies wear down and produce fewer piglets, they are loaded onto trucks and sent to slaughter.

Is factory farm cruelty against the law?

Investigators say many of these practices likely violate Argentine regulations. 

Animal Equality has submitted the evidence to authorities, who have confirmed they are reviewing the case. Animal Equality urges officials to inspect the farms, penalize violations, and strengthen enforcement of existing laws.

How many pigs are slaughtered on factory farms?

More than 8 million pigs are slaughtered in Argentina each year, with exports on the rise. For example, China has nearly quadrupled its pig meat imports from Argentina since 2023.

The growth of the sector cannot be measured only in tons; it must also be measured in suffering. — Dulce Ramírez, Vice President of Animal Equality for Latin America

Experts warn the findings in Buenos Aires reflect a broader pattern. As factory farming expands, Animal Equality has documented similar conditions around the world–including a recent case in the U.S. 

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How to stop animal cruelty

1. Add your name: Stop animal cruelty wherever it takes place. Start by signing Animal Equality’s petition to end factory farming in the United States.

Take action at the table: Replace meat with plant proteins at your next meal. Download the Love Veg cookbook and explore a growing library of plant-based recipes.