Particle.news
Download on the App Store

L214 Files Abuse Complaint After Releasing Footage From Morbihan Pig Maternity

The prefecture kept the Kergrist site open after an inspection, underscoring the gap between alleged illegal practices and on-farm enforcement.

Overview

  • L214, which disclosed new undercover videos Thursday, said it filed a criminal complaint on April 20 with the Lorient prosecutor and asked for immediate action by Morbihan veterinary services.
  • State services inspected the large Kergrist maternity of about 1,000 sows on April 17 and issued a formal notice to fix breaches but stopped short of ordering a shutdown.
  • The footage alleges piglets were castrated without anesthesia, a practice banned in France since 2022, and some weak animals were killed by being slammed to the floor.
  • Investigators also describe dead piglets left in pens, sows kept in restrictive stalls that can lead to crushed newborns, and injured or ill animals left without care in dirty conditions.
  • L214 names the Eureden cooperative as advising and marketing the farm’s output, which declined comment, and it is urging the group to adopt minimum welfare rules across its supply chain.