Proposed Changes

Changes to the minimum space allowance required for grower pigs

The unjustified proposals for increasing the minimum space allowance required for grower pigs are not supported by animal welfare science and could result in worse welfare outcomes on many farms. They go far beyond the minimum necessary to provide for pig welfare.

Even countries that have subsidies, government funding and protected markets are nowhere near meeting these proposed space requirements and some are below our current standard for space.

The proposals would result in much more frequent movements of pigs and frequent mixing of pigs of different ages and sizes to regularly adjust stocking rates on farm. This would impose unnecessary stress and reduce the welfare of our pigs.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), which came up with this draft code, has acknowledged that moving and mixing pigs more often would have adverse welfare outcomes.

Experts in pig health, production and welfare have advised that increasing the current minimum space allowance for growing pigs is justified. NZPork supports an increase but not to the extent NAWAC has recommended.

Our alternative proposal for a 13 per cent increase recognises that pigs would have considerably more space for most of the growing period and would only be at the minimum space allowance for a very short period.

We also support providing enrichment material to all pigs as an opportunity for welfare improvement. We believe that these initiatives will increase both the quantity and quality of space, and promote positive behaviour.

A ban or significant limitation on the traditional use of farrowing systems (farrowing crates)

Two different options are proposed by Government as alternatives to farrowing crates. One option would ban the use of farrowing crates completely, and the other would restrict their use to 72 hours around the time of farrowing.

Farrowing crates are the maternity ward for sows and are specifically designed and proven to significantly reduce the main causes of piglet deaths such as starvation, hypothermia and being accidentally crushed by the sow.

These and other causes of piglet mortality are welfare issues that we take seriously. NAWAC has failed to adequately consider the welfare impacts of piglet mortality.

No country has completely banned the use of farrowing sow confinement.

In the days after farrowing, sows are focused on resting and feeding their piglets. Short-term confinement at this time is beneficial to piglet welfare and coincides with the most critical days of a piglet’s life when they are at their most vulnerable. The science supports that after this short period, confinement can be removed as sows are motivated to be more active. Funding schemes, compensation, subsidies, and a long transition period were essential mitigations for farmers in the countries that have phased out the conventional use of farrowing crates, to avoid destroying their pork industries.

We believe that the duration of sow confinement around farrowing could be reduced to a maximum of seven days - including no more than four days after giving birth - with minor detriment to piglet welfare. All sows would be provided with nesting material before farrowing so that they can express nesting behaviour.

Minimum weaning age of 28 days for piglets

NZPork believes a minimum standard for weaning should continue to be outcome-based rather than prescriptive

By assigning a prescriptive minimum weaning age, NAWAC takes no account of the variation in piglet weight for age between farms, differences in weaner accommodation, nutrition, and management. This proposal takes an inflexible approach, which would be unworkable in practice.

If a minimum weaning age is set, this removes the current ability to make decisions around weaning that may be in the best interests of a sow, leading to negative welfare outcomes for either or both the sow and her piglets.