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Piglets aborted, chickens gassed as Covid-19 pandemic slams meat sector

Millions of pigs, chickens and cattle will be euthanised because of slaughterhouse closures, limiting supplies at grocers

Trade sources believe that consignments meant for exports to Hong Kong and Vietnam are forwarded to China for consumption there.

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As the United States faces a possible food shortage, and supermarkets and food banks are struggling to meet demand

8 min read Last Updated : Apr 28 2020 | 12:27 PM IST

With the pandemic hobbling the meat-packing industry, Iowa farmer Al Van Beek had nowhere to ship his full-grown pigs to make room for the 7,500 piglets he expected from his breeding operation. The crisis forced a decision that still troubles him: He ordered his employees to give injections to the pregnant sows, one by one, that would cause them to abort their baby pigs.

Van Beek and other farmers say they have no choice but to cull livestock as they run short on space to house their animals or money to feed them, or both. The world's biggest meat companies -

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