A Roscommon animal rights activist has accused the pig farming sector of keeping "intelligent, sociable" pigs in "sheds where they never see the sunlight".
Gerry Boland says mother sows are "kept in extreme confinement" and have a "very short life" despite having the ability to live for up to 20 years.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show, he also accused some pig farms of failing to adhere to pig welfare regulations and said some farmers are not doing enough to meet the "behavioural needs" of pigs:
However, Monaghan pig farmer and former chair of the Monaghan IFA, Frank Brady said no pig on his farm is kept in solitary confinement and that they interact with each other.
He says pigs are kept in the "highest standards" and added that Ireland is the best in Europe in caring for farm animals:
