Food authority to investigate whether break-ins triggered premature births

Iceland’s Food and Veterinary Authority will investigate whether break-ins at a Stjörnugrís pig farm may have triggered premature births, mbl.is reported. The authority said it would not overlook any mistreatment of animals.

Einar Logi Pétursson, who posted a video of himself breaking into the farm this summer, has admitted to entering it twice. The footage showed pigs with sores, a sow giving birth and dead piglets. Pétursson criticised the animals’ conditions in the video.

The authority said sores can occur in animal husbandry even when welfare requirements are met. But owners must respond immediately with appropriate treatment, and the agency monitors whether they do so.

Stillborn piglets can occur in all species, the authority said, and external stress is known to cause premature births. It said it had been informed that sows had miscarried and several had begun giving birth in connection with the break-ins. It will investigate the footage and whether the premature births may have resulted from the intrusions.

The authority said the break-ins caused pigs to be let out of their pens and buildings into bad weather, resulting in injuries and deaths. It called those actions unjustifiable, saying efforts to protect animal welfare must never cause or increase animals’ suffering.

MAST said it takes reports of possible animal-welfare violations seriously and investigates them, requiring improvements from owners when violations are confirmed. It inspects pig farms at least once a year, but said inspections cannot prevent every breach. Responsibility for animals’ care and conditions rests with their owners.