...while video shows `human' gene pigs in lab

ANIMAL RIGHTS activists have infiltrated one of the secret centres which are used to hold genetically modified pigs. An undercover member of the British Union of Anti-Vivisectionists has videoed the pigs at the experimental animal breeding centre in Belton, Leicestershire - Harlan UK Ltd.

The "transgenic" animals have been bred with a human gene. This means that their organs can be transplanted into humans with a very good chance of not being rejected.

The pigs, whose whereabouts have never before been publicly revealed, are kept in plastic weaner units from only a few days old, housed next door to monkeys bred for animal testing and near beagles bred for their organs and blood.

They are being shipped to Belton from another secret breeding centre, believed to be in Scotland, when less than a week old. At Harlan they are fattened up before then being sent to Heathrow and flown around the world to form breeding herds in Japan, the United States, Canada and Spain.

The video footage shows the piglets in pens with high bars, fighting viciously with one another, biting and inflicting multiple wounds. They have no access to sunlight. A memo from Imutran, the company which owns the pigs, instructs staff at Harlan UK Ltd to spray the pigs with "anti- fighting spray".

In February and April 1999 more than a dozen were killed, including two only six weeks old that had become lame.

The undercover investigator was employed to clean the pigs and other animals bred for experiments and had access to private information about plans to ship them abroad and about instructions to kill them.

"They were in such a small space with no windows and doors that they used to fight and squabble quite violently before shipment. There was nothing else to do but eat. They had very little stimulation," she said. "They were just a few days old when they came in, really tiny piglets which should have been with their mother."

The normal age for weaning pigs is about 80 days but, because the Government has not yet introduced rules for keeping transgenic pigs, there are no standards governing their welfare.

"It is outrageous that the commercial production of transgenic pigs is allowed to happen whilst there are no government regulations," said Sarah Kite, head of investigations at the BUAV. "The findings of our investigation reveal major animal welfare concerns and show the stark contrast between the reality of living for these pigs and the cosy PR image portrayed by Imutran."

MPs intend to write to the Government to ask it to introduce a code of practice with minimum standards for the welfare of the genetically modified pigs.

"I think the British public would be horrified if they knew what went on behind closed doors in the name of science. It seems these piglets are subject to completely alien treatment and exist in a legal vacuum," said Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman. "It is vital the Government introduces standards governing the welfare of these animals forthwith."

Imutran, part of pharmaceutical giant Novartis, which breeds the pigs, hopes to produce a new supply of compatible organs to beat the shortage of kidneys and livers for transplant. It refused to comment on the location of its herd to "protect the safety of the people who work at these centres and the animals involved".

In Britain, no pig-human transplants have yet been carried out. There are widespread concerns that pig viruses could be passed to humans who use the genetically modified pig organs.