Holland-Uncastrated Pigs.

HOLLAND.

UNCASTRATED PIGS.

The Dutch pressure group Pigs in Need (VIN), have forced two of the national major supermarket chains in Holland, to only sell pork from un-castrated male pigs.

Male pigs have been traditionally castrated, because the pork from male pigs that are intact, is apt to give of a pungent male smell.

However VIN has long argued that castration is needless, as the smell only occurs in 1-2% of cases after cooking.

A recent television campaign, has shown graphic film of baby pigs being castrated, without anaesthetic and the baby pigs squealing in the process.

Holland has around 20 million pigs, more that the population of the country and is the worlds fourth largest exporter of pork.

The animal rights campaign, has won over the two major supermarkets in the country.

A spokesman for VIN, said in a statement on Friday that they were no going to target the other major supermarkets and "this is a breakthrough, if two supermarkets can do this so can the others".

The spokesman Hans Baaji, went on to say, " the supermarkets control supply and prices , now they are in a position to control animal welfare".

Castration of pigs is normally done by slicing the scrotum with a lance, then removing the testicle, cutting of at the cord which supports it, a pigs scrotum like a cats, is directly under the animals tail.

This is unlike cattle or sheep, where the scrotum hangs between the legs and castration can be done by squeezing the cords, to stop the blood supply, allowing the scrotum to eventually die and fall from the animal.