Annual figures on animal slaughter show an increase in the number of mass livestock farms in Spain.
The Spanish news site El Diario shows the figures of animals most slaughtered in Spain. Poultry and pigs top the statistical rankings.
Millions of animals sent to slaughter every year
In 2020, the Spanish slaughtered 800.6 million poultry, 56.4 million pigs, 40.7 million rabbits, 9.45 million sheep, 2.4 million cattle, 1.2 million goats and 36,949 horses. For example, pork production has increased by 8.24% since 2019. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food published the figures.
Worrying increase in mass livestock farms
A worrying development in recent years is the increase in larger livestock farms in Spain, the so-called mass livestock farms. Environmental and animal welfare organisations, such as Ecologistas en Acción, warn against these types of mass installations where sometimes more than 7,000 animals are kept in too small a space before heading for slaughter.
Spain does not comply with environmental regulations for livestock farms
Increasingly, farmers build these types of macro-livestock farms in deserted rural areas. Partly as a result of the increase in the number of mass livestock farms, Spain is unable to meet the maximum limit value for ammonia emissions.
In addition to not meeting this requirement, these types of large installations consume an immense amount of water. Many companies do not adhere to the rules on slurry storage. Furthermore, people choose to install these large livestock farms in or near protection areas for other animals, such as birds.
