Beth, her mum and the other breeding sows arrived at a huge buidling. Through the gates they arrived in a holding pen. Deeper inside, Beth could see rows of crates, each holding a breeding sow. The crates were so small, each sow could only move back and forth a few steps. Other sows were kept in groups of ten, but their sties were crowwded, too. What shocked Beth even more though was the immense stench of urine and feces. She could see that the pigs stood on slatted floors. Apparently, shit and pee were just meant to fall down through the floor and were stored underneath the sows. There was also no natural light but just neon lamps. Somehow, this was not what she had expected. But Beth had little time to commemorate the situation for some new farmhands took charge. This time, an older woman was apparently in charge. She announced: "Ok ladies. Welcome to the sty. This is your home from now. Don't look to shocked, you will get used to it. And remember: You're pigs now, not humans, and this is how pigs are kept in our society. If you behhave and remain productive, we will be friends. If you disobey or lose productivity - well, that's it for you: Slaughter time. Now, we will have to go through some initial procedures: You will be disinfected and vaccinated. Also, we will have to cut your tails using a burner Risk is too high, they get injured. Plus, they are only in our was whne we inseminate you. Finally, you will receive your ear mark and a first hormone shot to start your cycles so you can all be bread at the same time." This time, Beth and her mum were amongst the first to go. Before they realized, they were sprayed with a desinfectant and received a syringe into their buttocks with the vaccine. Suddenly, they felt a sharp pain and smelt burning flesh. A farmhand cut off their curly tails with a hot burner, so only a stubble remained. Then two more pincing pains, as an earmark was shot through her ear and another syringe shot into their hams, this time hormones.
For the first time, Beth fully realized that she was no longer human. She was an animal, which was judged according to its economic value. And if she failed to deliver enough piglets, she would no doubt end up as sausage very soon. With that in mind, she found herself in a compartment with 11 other sows, one of them her mum. Soon, all other pigs had undergone their initial treatment, too, and the farmhands left. Beth suddenly felt hungry and so she made her way to the trough. It was filled with a sweet yellowish liquid, which, she had to admit, tasted actually ok. Beth looked for her mum and found her in a corner of the sty, where she was taking a pee, trying to turn away from the other pigs, to keep at least some of her dignity. When she had finished, Beth and her joined to find a corner for the nights sleep.