Activists call for charges in MN pig farm abuse claims

A Los Angeles-based animal rights organization is hoping criminal charges will be filed against workers and managers at a Minnesota farm who were captured on hidden camera abusing or neglecting pigs at a facility in Rock County, Minn.

Last Chance for Animals released on Tuesday videos taken covertly during a four-month investigation at the Christensen Farms "breed-to-wean" facility.

Investigations director Adam Wilson said that the investigator who had obtained a job at the facility witnessed and recorded instances of pig abuse and neglect that was not corrected by management.

"During the course of the investigation, what we discovered was that workers were hitting, kicking, stabbing downed sows with pens," Wilson said. "Workers dragging pigs by their snouts and ears; workers failing to properly euthanize piglets that were in critical condition."

Wilson said the investigator also observed sows that were left languishing in pens for sick animals for weeks on end without medical care or humane euthanasia.

Video evidence of three dozen instances of animal cruelty has been submitted to the Rock County Sheriff's Office for investigation by the organization. Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said the issues at Christensen Farms are currently under investigation, but that no more information is immediately available.

The Sleepy Eye-based farm company released a statement on Monday promising to investigate the accusations and announcing the suspension of seven employees at the facility.

"It is our responsibility and we owe it to our packer customers and consumers to provide uncompromising care to our animals," Christensen Farms CEO Glenn Stolt said in the statement. "There is no place in this industry for individuals who mistreat animals."

A representative for the company declined further statement after the release of the video on Tuesday.

The group is hoping that the Rock County attorney files criminal animal cruelty charges against both abusive workers and responsible managers.

"It's not just lazy workers doing this, this is all being overseen by a manager, as well as a regional manager," Wilson said. "These are not rogue employees taking things into their own hands, this is a culture of apathy that has led to this."

The group did not identify the investigator due to fears for their safety, but Wilson said they were employed at the facility for four months.

Minnesota does not have a so-called "ag-gag" law prohibiting the covert recording of video at farming facilities. A similar proposal has been introduced at the state Legislature in recent years, but has failed to pass.

Christensen Farms operates more than 50 sow farms across the Midwest and employees more than 1,100 people, according to the company's website.