Stable overheated

Ventilation blocked! 45 pigs die in agony

A terrible case of animal cruelty in southern Styria: Unknown perpetrators blocked the ventilation of a pig farm. 45 animals died in agony due to overheating.

The perpetrators broke into the unlocked stable area of a pig farm in Großklein (Leibnitz district) sometime between 7pm and 8.30am on Sunday and Monday. They deactivated the alarm system for the ventilation and then used a wooden slat to block the ventilator in the exhaust pipe for ventilating the barn. 

Survival of other animals uncertain
When the farmer checked in the morning, he made the terrible discovery that 45 pigs had died in agony due to overheating. It is still unknown whether the remaining 24 animals will survive. According to the police, the official veterinarian was called in and the investigation is ongoing.