SYDNEY, Nov. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Voiceless
Animal Cruelty Index (VACI), a new global interactive education
resource, tracks the animal welfare performance of fifty countries
– selected among the largest producers of farm animal products in
the world. It takes account of the combined impacts of production,
consumption, and regulatory factors
(vaci.voiceless.org.au).
Approximately 70 billion farm animals are slaughtered each year
for human consumption globally. This equates to over 191
million animals per day, almost 8 million per hour or 2,200 animals
per second. The number of animals slaughtered worldwide is
increasing at a rapid pace, driven by increased incomes in
developing nations, a growing reliance on cheap products from
factory farms and world population growth.
Fifty countries have been evaluated, accounting for almost 80%
of the world's farm animal production. The new index
complements the World Animal Protection Index (API) published in
2014 (api.worldanimalprotection.org). While the API ranks the
quality of animal welfare legislation across countries, the VACI
focuses specifically on the welfare of farm animals. As a
result, the United States now
ranks 49th out of fifty countries compared to a
31st ranking in the API.
Each country's legislative environment is an important factor.
However, good regulatory frameworks are not
sufficient. Countries with more plant-based diets and
countries that have not adopted factory farming are ranked higher
under the VACI scale.
As meat and dairy consumption rises, so does factory farming,
which is rife with animal cruelty: most farm animals are
permanently confined in cages or packed together in such large
numbers that they struggle to find space to move or reach their
food. Baby animals are mutilated without pain relief – the
sensitive tails, teeth and genitalia of piglets and the beaks
of chicks are clipped, as well as the horns, tails, and
testicles of calves – because it is practical, cheap and,
alarmingly, often lawful to do so.
The countries ranked the lowest are Belarus, the United
States, and Venezuela.
Australia receives an 'F' (very
poor) while the UK and New Zealand
achieve a 'D' (marginal performance). The countries ranking the
highest (i.e. the least cruel) are Kenya, India,
and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Voiceless, the animal protection institute is an independent
think tank based in Australia
www.voiceless.org.au. The VACI can be viewed
at: vaci.voiceless.org.au
Contact:
Elaine
Morris
|
Voiceless, the animal
protection institute
|
elaine@voiceless.org.au
|
www.voiceless.org.au
|
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content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-united-states-ranks-second-worst-in-a-new-farm-animal-cruelty-index-300560030.html
SOURCE Voiceless