The New Jersey senate has voted overwhelmingly to ban gestation stalls for breeding pigs.

The vote earned applause from The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary, Mercy For Animals and the ASPCA.

The bill, S.1921, was sponsored by Sen. Raymond Lesniak and the Assembly companion bill sponsored by Assemblyman Gilbert Wilson, Assemblywoman Marlene Caride, and Assemblyman Thomas Giblin.

The Assembly vote was carried by 60 to five and Senate by a vote of 29 to 4. The legislation now goes to Gov. Chris Christie for his signature.

S.1921 will require that breeding pigs be able to stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs.

According to the Humane Society, a statewide survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research reveals 89 per cent of New Jersey voters support Gov. Christie signing the bill into law.

Kathleen Schatzmann, New Jersey state director for The HSUS said: “Kudos to the New Jersey Legislature for taking a strong stance against the inhumane practice of immobilizing breeding pigs for virtually their entire lives. We thank Sen. Lesniak for his leadership on animal protection issues and urge Governor Chris Christie to pass this bill.”

Bruce Friedrich, senior director for strategic initiatives at Farm Sanctuary, said: “This decision from New Jersey’s legislature is further evidence that these cruel systems have no future. Cramming animals into crates so small that they can’t even turn around is horribly abusive. These systems have no place in a just society.”

Debora Bresch, Esq., senior state director of government relations, mid-Atlantic region, at the ASPCA said: “Other states have already acted to prohibit inhumane confinement of pigs in gestation crates, and we’re glad New Jersey is following suit. We appreciate the legislature's commitment to more humane confinement of breeding pigs and look forward to the governor’s support.”

Nathan Runkle, executive director for Mercy For Animals, said: “Mercy For Animals applauds New Jersey for taking this important step to outlaw the cruel confinement of pregnant pigs, one of the worst forms of factory farm cruelty.”