MAF inspection found nothing wrong with pig farm: Owner

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The owner of a pig farm featured in a television current affairs programme, says animal welfare investigators did not find anything wrong when they inspected his farm today.

TVNZ's Sunday programme aired footage by animal welfare organisation Open Rescue, who were accompanied by comedian Mike King during a break-in at the Levin pig farm.

King, a long-standing front man for a campaign advertising pork, said he was deeply ashamed of his role in promoting that type of farming.

The pigs were unable to move and obviously in distress, chewing at the cage bars and frothing, he said.

National animal advocacy organisation Save Animals from Exploitation (Safe) have named the owner of the piggery as former New Zealand Pork Industry Board chairman Colin Kay.

Mr Kay told One News he thought activists had stirred the pigs up.

"I think the people that were there provoked them somehow."

The farm was investigated three years ago, and cleared of any wrong-doing.

This afternoon, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) animal welfare inspectors, an independent vet and pig expert, visited the pig farm and spent around two-and-a-half hours there.

Mr Kay told news media after the inspection that investigators did not find anything wrong with the farm.

But MAF released a statement soon after the inspection that said it had not reached any conclusions.

Inspectors would be completing their reports, which would include any recommendations and conclusions.

This would enable MAF to decide upon what, if any, further investigation was required, the statement said.

Meanwhile a major bacon supplier, Hellers Tasty Limited , has said the example shown in the media in recent days was not representative of the industry.

"But we are checking conditions and pig raising practices on all farms from which we source product," managing director Nick Harris said.

Meanwhile, the Green Party said the programme had "lifted the petticoats" on the pork industry.

Green MP and animal welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said she planned to take a cross party group of MPs to visit some intensive pig farms.

She said Agriculture Minister David Carter "has a duty, as Minister of Agriculture, to learn about the reality of pig farming in New Zealand".

At his post cabinet press conference yesterday, Prime Minister John Key said he found the television footage of intensive pig farming "very, very disturbing".

The New Zealand Pork Industry said the pork industry was phasing out long-term use of sow stalls and that the programme did not represent the pork industry as a whole.

The pork industry's board had postponed the annual Bacon of the Year awards in response to the programme.

- NZPA