ANIMAL AID AWARDS
FOR MAD SCIENCE 2000
Some 900 million animals are killed each year in the UK
to satisfy the human palate. The majority are subjected to intensive rearing
regimes - whether it be chickens in rank, over-crowded sheds; or dairy cows
selectively bred to carry freakishly large quantities of milk and whose calves
are stolen from them within a day or two. Even sheep on hills are victims of
intensification. Thanks to over-breeding, neglect and low shepherd numbers,
some 15 to 20 per cent of all new-born lambs are dead within days.
But the suffering for sheep, pigs, cattle, turkeys and
chickens doesn't end there. As Animal Aid's Mad Science Awards for 2000 reveal,
thousands of these animals are made to endure a range of perverse torments in
vivisection laboratories throughout the country in an attempt to 'improve' factory
farming.
Squeezing profit
Sometimes the purpose is to learn how to squeeze more profit from animals who
are already at their physiological limits. Other times the experiments are an
attempt to remedy welfare problems that are a direct consequence of the punishing
way in which the animals are impregnated, fattened, transported and slaughtered.
 The
size of the national sheep flock has increased dramatically over the past 20
years, leading to serious welfare problems as well as financial pressures upon
farmers. And yet invasive experiments designed to improve sheep fertility continue.
An example we highlight is the 14 pregnant ewes at London University who were
part-starved for 70 days, subjected to surgery, had tubes inserted into veins
and arteries for several more weeks, and were even restricted in their oxygen
supply by having bags put over their heads... all this prior to them and their
foetuses being killed.
Starving experiments
Another starving experiment involving the insertion of tubes was conducted
at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen. This time the victims were one year old male
cattle. The idea was to compare the way cattle and sheep use certain food sources.
Disease amongst shed-reared animals is the norm, not least amongst pigs, the
majority of whom eke out their existence in crowded units made of concrete and
metal. Despite there being an endless supply of disease victims languishing
in these commercial units, Belfast researchers removed 16 newborn piglets from
their mothers - even before they could receive their first antibody-rich colostrum
- and injected them with two types of virus. Two animals died and others became
thin, immobilised and weak. All were then killed and examined.
 One
million broiler chickens (these are the ones reared for meat rather than to
produce eggs) die each year while transported to killing plants. They succumb
to heat or cold, or to the sheer stress of being thrust into plastic crates
and driven for several hours.
Researchers at the Roslin Institute Edinburgh, where abusive animal cloning
experiments take place, put 90 caged chickens in a wind tunnel for three hours.
Some had temperature-measuring devices implanted in their bodies. Temperatures
were raised and lowered and the birds sprayed with water.
Chicken pain tests
Another Roslin experiment on chickens involved injecting into the ankle of
more than 200, a substance known to cause acute pain. The idea was to mimic
the joint pain that is endemic in commercial chickens as a result of the way
these over-large birds are rapidly fattened. Some of the chickens also received
an injected pain killer. One of the three drugs tried out actually made their
suffering worse.
It is plainly evident why chickens suffer chronic leg pain - a condition that
is often lethal because it renders the birds unable to walk to the feed and
water units within the factory sheds. The answer is not an increased diet of
toxic pharmaceuticals but to desist from abusing them.
 Meanwhile,
from Addlestone, Surrey comes a reminder of the heavy price a range of species
continues to pay for the BSE crisis, an epidemic that is the product of industry
greed and stupidity. Ten pigs were injected with brain material obtained from
cows suffering BSE. Injection sites were the pigs' brains, abdomens and veins.
Some suffered BSE-like symptoms, demonstrating to the researchers that when
you inject diseased brain material into the bodies of another species they get
sick. What an amazing discovery!
The big lie
This year's Mad Science Awards are well deserved. They highlight a phenomenon
that has long been virtually ignored: the conduct of one form of animal abuse
in order to perpetuate another... vivisection in the service of factory farming.
They also illuminate the Big Lie that is propounded by advocates of animal experiments
- the lie that, when not done to save human lives, vivisection is carried out
for the benefit of other animals.
Summaries of the Award Winners
Paper 1: Bristol University: lamb castration experiments
At Bristol University, 216 lambs aged 4 to 6 days were used for research
(funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) into ways to measure
the amount of pain felt during castration. Lambs are routinely castrated to
control breeding and in the belief that it may improve the value of their
meat.. 162 of the lambs were castrated with or without anaesthetic by one
of three methods: a tight rubber ring squeezed onto their scrotum; a rubber
ring combined with using a clamp on their scrotum to crush the blood vessels
supplying their testicles; or surgery to cut open their scrotum and tear out
their testicles. The amount of pain they were suffering was then compared
by studying their behaviour - including their reaction when their scrotum
was pressed; measuring how hard a blunt pin had to be pressed against their
foot before they lifted it; and taking blood samples to measure the level
of a stress-hormone. Although it is plainly obvious that lambs suffer pain
and distress during this type of research and when they are castrated on farms,
preventing or discouraging this mutilation was not discussed.
Thornton PD & Waterman-Pearson AE (1999) 'Quantification
of the pain and distress responses to castration in young lambs', Research
in Veterinary Science 66(2): 107-118
Paper 2: London University: pregnant ewes starved
and surgically invaded
At London University, 14 pregnant ewes were experimented on to see how depriving
them of food affected the development of some hormone-producing parts of their
unborn foetuses - with possible long-term health consequences. Half of the
ewes were allowed only 85% of their recommended nutritional requirements for
the first 70 days of their pregnancy. A little more than a month later, all
14 ewes were operated on to expose their uterus and partly remove their foetus.
Tubes were inserted into an artery and a vein in the foetus, into the mother's
uterus, and into one of the mother's veins. The foetus was then replaced in
the mother's womb, the cuts made to the ewe were closed, and the tubes were
used to take samples over a period of 2 weeks. On 3 occasions during this
period, a bag was put over each ewe's head and for a period of one hour the
amount of oxygen was restricted and the effect on substances in the blood
of their foetuses was measured. Once these tests were complete, the ewes and
foetuses were killed and some of their organs measured and weighed to see
whether the under feeding had affected their growth. The obvious conclusion
that if sheep are to be farmed they should be fed adequately is not discussed.
Hawkins P; Steyn C; McGarrigle HHG; Saito T; Ozaki
T; Stratford LL; Noakes DE & Hanson MA (1999) 'Effect of maternal nutrient
restriction in early gestation on responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal
axis to acute isocapnic hypoxaemia in late gestation fetal sheep'. Experimental
Physiology; 85(1): 85-96
Paper 3: MAFF: brain experiments on pigs
As part of research funded by MAFF in Addlestone, Surrey, 21 young pigs were
used in tests to see whether BSE would transfer to pigs. The pigs were injected
with a solution of salt, in 10 cases containing homogenised brains from cows
with BSE. The injections were made at three sites - into their brain, into
a vein, and into their abdomen Five of the pigs injected with BSE tissues
were allowed to suffer BSE-like symptoms (behavioural changes and difficulty
walking) for some time before being killed once they were terminally ill.
The remaining pigs were killed after periods of up to five years, to allow
their brain tissues to be examined. The research seems to show that BSE can
be transmitted to pigs if they are injected with the brain tissue of infected
cows.
Ryder SJ; Hawkins SAC; Dawson M & Wells GAH (2000)
'The neuropathology of experimental bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the
pig'. Journal of Comparative Pathology; 122(2/3): 131-143
Paper 4: Turkey slaughter tests at Bristol
Research at Bristol University funded by MAFF used 1115 turkeys with different
stunning currents to compare how effective the stunning was and how much damage
was caused to their bodies. The turkeys were hung by their legs from a shackle
and the electric current was passed through their bodies by immersing their
heads in a waterbath. If the charge stopped the turkey's heart, the bird was
transferred to a processing line and killed by cutting both carotid arteries
in his/her neck. Otherwise they were left suspended on the shackle until they
started breathing, then laid on their sides until they could lift their heads.
They were then stunned again and their throats cut to allow them to bleed
to death. The time before the turkeys started to recover was found to be less
than the time found previously between neck cutting and brain death. This
suggests that even if there is no delay between stunning and neck cutting,
turkeys will regain consciousness while they are bleeding to death. Greater
delays are more likely in the far from ideal conditions of a commercial slaughter
line. The lower electrical current frequencies were more likely to cause the
turkeys' hearts to stop, and so reduce their suffering - but were also more
likely to damage their bodies, mainly through haemorrhages and broken bones.
Substantial concern is expressed over the loss of value of their bodies -
but less concern for the additional suffering that must be caused by these
major injuries.
Wilkins LJ; Gregory NG & Wotton SB (1999) 'Effectiveness
of different stunning regimes for turkeys and consequences for carcase quality'.
British Poultry Science; 40: 478-484
Paper 5: Edinburgh: pain tests on chickens' legs
At the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, 216 young chickens (12 weeks old) were
used to assess whether certain pain-killers would be useful in further research
into how much pain chickens suffer from joint diseases. These joint diseases
are commonly suffered by commercial breeds, and make them unable to walk.
Pain was deliberately produced by injecting into the left ankle joint of each
chicken a substance known to produce an acute arthritic condition similar
to gout. For some chickens the injection also included one of the three pain-killers
being tested. After one hour, the chickens were watched for a further hour
to assess from their activities how much pain they were suffering. No information
is given about what happened to them after this period, or for how much longer
they were left in pain. The conclusion was that none of the pain-killers reduced
the pain, and that one made the pain even worse. No comment is made about
the plight of huge numbers of chickens suffering continual joint pain in intensive
farms.
Gentle MJ; Hocking PM; Bernard R & Dunn LN (1999) 'Evaluation
of intraarticular opioid analgesia for the relief of articular pain in the
domestic fowl'. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior; 63(2): 339-343
Paper 6: Cattle starved in Aberdeen
At the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, five steers (one year old)
were used in research on starved cattle. They had two tubes inserted into
their stomachs. They were then deprived of all normal food while nutrients
were supplied through one tube to their stomachs and samples taken through
the other. Two of the steers were starved completely (given essential trace
minerals and vitamins only) for two days; then they were allowed increasing
amounts of glucose. The fate of the steers at the end of the experiment is
not described. The results indicated that there is a species difference between
cattle and sheep in the way they use some nutrients.
Orskov ER; Meehan DE; MacLeod NA & Kyle DJ (1999) 'Effect
of glucose supply on fasting nitrogen excretion and effect of level and type
of volatile fatty acid infusion on response to protein infusion in cattle'.
British Journal of Nutrition; 81(5): 389-393
Paper 7: Piglets given lethal virus in Belfast
In Belfast, 16 piglets were deprived of their mothers' colostrum and at one
or two days old were infected with two types of virus (porcine circovirus
type 2 and porcine parvovirus). The aim was to produce the symptoms of a severe
illness, known as post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), that
over the past decade has been affecting farmed pigs in various parts of the
world. The piglets were infected with one or both viruses. Two piglets died
during the experiment, and others became ill (they were lethargic, stopped
eating, were reluctant to move, stood with their heads lowered, and became
thin). The surviving piglets were killed three to four weeks after being infected,
and samples of their organs were taken for examination. Some were found to
have damage to their liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, lymph nodes, and other
parts of their bodies. The research was conducted at the Veterinary Sciences
Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland and Queen's University
of Belfast.
Kennedy S; Moffett D; McNeilly F; Meehan B; Ellis J;
Krakowka S & Allan GM (2000) 'Reproduction of lesions of postweaning multisystemic
wasting syndrome by infection of conventional pigs with porcine circovirus
type 2 alone or in combination with porcine parvovirus'. Journal of Comparative
Pathology 122(1): 9-24
Allan GM; Kennedy S; McNeilly F; Foster JC; Ellis JA;
Krakowka SJ; Meehan B & Adair BM (1999) 'Experimental reproduction of severe
wasting disease by co-infection of pigs with porcine circovirus and porcine
parvovirus'. Journal of Comparative Pathology; 121(1):1-1
Paper 8: Liverpool University: stress and reproduction
tests
At Liverpool University, 20 ewes were used to research how stress during
transport affected production of a reproductive hormone. Ten of the ewes were
anaesthetised while their ovaries were removed and an implant to supply a
hormone was inserted under their skin. Four larger implants were later inserted
under their skin and left for between one and two days. The timing of ovulation
in all the ewes was controlled by hormones, delivered by devices inserted
into their vagina for periods of 10 days. A tube was inserted into their jugular
vein and used to take blood samples. As part of one experiment, the ewes were
driven in a truck for four hours and the effect on hormones in their blood
was measured. Researchers concluded that the stress of transporting ewes inhibits
their production of a hormone and so reduces their fertility. The research
was conducted at Liverpool University Department of Veterinary Clinical Science
and Animal Husbandry, Neston, South Wirral.
Dobson H; Tebble JE; Phogat JB & Smith RF (1999) 'Effect
of transport on pulsatile and surge secretion of LH in ewes in the breeding
season'. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility; 116(1): 1-8
Paper 9: Invasive pregnancy tests in Glasgow
In Glasgow, 40 ewes were subjected to research into how ultrasound can be
used to check the number of ovulations in sheep. The aim was to test this
method on sheep who have a gene which produces higher ovulation rates than
normal. Eighteen of the ewes were made to stand in a crate while an ultrasound
probe wrapped in a condom was pushed into their rectums and used to examine
their ovaries. The other 22 were held on their backs in a crate, with their
back legs pulled towards their head and tied to the bars to prevent them kicking
the researcher or the equipment. Again an ultrasound probe was pushed into
their rectums and used to examine their ovaries. All the ewes were conscious
during the examination - which in a few cases caused a small amount of bleeding
from their rectum. Following the examinations, the ewes were killed and their
ovaries removed for investigation. The research was conducted at Glasgow University
Veterinary School, Glasgow and the Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive.
Dickie AM; Paterson C; Anderson JLM & Boyd JS (1999)
'Determination of corpora lutea numbers Booroola-Texel ewes using transrectal
ultrasound'. Theriogenology 51(7): 1209-1224
Paper 10: Edinburgh: wind tunnel tests on chickens
At the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, 80 broiler chickens at slaughter weight
(six weeks old) were used to establish whether they were more likely to die
during transport if they were wet. Each year more than one million broiler
chickens die while being transported to slaughterhouses - many as a result
of over-heating or from cold. The chickens were put in transport cages in
a wind tunnel at different temperatures for three hours (representing the
average transport time of 2.7 hours). Temperatures taken from their rectums
or from a device implanted in their bodies showed that when they were sprayed
with water they became colder, in some cases cold enough to have died from
hypothermia. These problems are exacerbated by the industry practice of starving
birds for up to six hours before transportating them. A reappraisal of vehicle
ventilation design to limit wetting of broilers by road-spray is recommended.
Hunter RR; Mitchell MA & Carlisle AJ (1999) 'Wetting
of broilers during cold weather transport: a major source of physiological
stress?' British Poultry Science; 40(Suppl): S48-S49
Paper 11: Aberystwyth: weighted balloons and glass
spheres inserted into sheep
At the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth,
21 adult sheep were used to research the control of contractions in the first
part of their stomachs. While anaesthetised, 14 of the sheep had a hole 12cm
across (nearly five inches) cut into this part of their stomach and were then
fitted with a plastic plug. After two months or more, the sheep were trained
to "stand quietly" while changes in pressure in four parts of their stomachs
were measured using weighted balloons put into their stomachs. The remaining
seven sheep were anaesthetised while probes were placed around arteries supplying
their stomachs, to allow blood-flow to be measured. These sheep also had a
water-filled balloon weighted with glass spheres pushed through a hole into
their stomachs. The sheep then had various substances injected, and their
stomach contractions were monitored and blood samples were taken for analysis.
Care AD; Abbas SK; Harmeyer J & Boivin R (1999) 'The
relaxant effects of parathyroid hormone(1-34) and parathyroid hormone-related
protein(1-34) on ovine reticulo-ruminal smooth muscle in vivo'. Experimental
Physiology; 84(4): 665-675
Paper 12: Edinburgh: fourteen month brain tests on
rams
At a Medical Research Council unit in Edinburgh, 12 adult rams were used
in experiments to discover which part of their brain controls hormone changes
in response to changing day-length. A part of each ramıs brain was cut out,
and an aluminium foil barrier was put into his brain to separate two of its
parts. As expected, this caused the rams to urinate more than usual, their
testicles to malfunction, and they became fat. Even so, they were said to
be in good healthı. The rams were kept permanently in rooms with artificial
lighting. For the nearly 14 months of this experiment the lights were kept
on for either eight or 16 hours each day. Twice each week a blood sample was
taken from the jugular vein of each ram, and on three occasions a tube was
inserted into their jugular vein and used to take 24 blood samples (at hourly
intervals). The experiment was conducted at the MRC Reproductive Biology Unit,
Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh.
Lincoln GA & Clarke IJ (2000) 'Role of the pituitary
gland in the development of photorefractoriness and generation
of long-term changes in prolactin secretion in rams'. Biology
of Reproduction; 62(2): 432-438
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