Does the UK use pig cages?
Sow stalls have been banned in the UK since 1999, however farrowing crates are widely used. Over half of UK sows (more than 250,000) are confined in these cruel cages for weeks at a time, forced to feed their piglets through bars.
When were farrowing crates banned in the UK?
1999
Farrowing crates, profoundly similar to sow crates which were banned in the UK in 1999, are long, narrow crates in which sows are contained during gestation. It’s still legal to use farrowing crates in spite of them having the same implications to animal welfare as the sow/gestation crates.
Are farrowing crates illegal?
They are banned in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Sweden, and in nine states in the US (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon and Rhode Island). However, farrowing crates, in which female breeding pigs can be kept for up to five weeks, are not banned in the UK.
How long do pigs stay in farrowing crates?
Sows are housed in farrowing crates during the birth to her piglets (called farrowing) and for 21 to 28 days after (called lactation).
Are farrowing crates banned in UK?
Are farrowing crates legal? Despite a petition (now closed) on the UK Gov website that aimed to outlaw their use, farrowing crates are still legal in the UK. Today approximately almost 60% of UK sows are kept in farrowing crates around the time of giving birth.
Are there any alternatives to farrowing cages?
farrowing crate In general there are three indoor alternative farrowing systems to the crate: individual farrowing pens, individual temporary crates, or group systems.
Are sow stalls banned in the UK?
Called “sow stalls”, the crates have been banned in the UK since 1999 but their limited use in the EU is legal. Trade body the British Retail Consortium said UK stores led the way in requiring high welfare standards.
Are sow stalls legal in UK?
Sow stalls have been banned in the EU since January 2013, although their use is allowed for up to four weeks after mating. They have been completely banned in the UK since 1999.
Why farrowing crates are bad?
The farrowing crate. Most intensive systems use farrowing crates. Like sow stalls, farrowing crates also severely restrict the sow’s movement and frustrate her strong motivation to build a nest before giving birth. They prevent the sow from being able to get away from her piglets, for example if they bite her teats.
How big should a farrowing pen be?
about 6 feet long
Each pen should be about 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, with a 2 ½ foot wide feed passage on the front side of the pens. The farrowing houses should be size appropriate to the number of sows in the herd and the number of births planned for each week.
When were sow stalls banned in UK?
Sow stalls They were banned in the EU in January 2013, although their use is permitted for up to four weeks after mating. They were completely banned in the UK in 1999.
What is a sow stall?
Sow stalls A sow stall is a metal cage – usually with a bare concrete/slatted floor – which is so narrow that the sow cannot turn around, and she can only stand up and lie down with difficulty. Sow stalls deprive pregnant sows of almost all natural behaviours; they cannot explore, exercise, forage or socialise.
Why are people against farrowing crates?
Farrowing crates also severely restrict movement and frustrate sows’ strong motivation to build nests before giving birth. They prevent sows from being able to get away from their piglets if needed (for example, if they bite).
Are there alternatives to farrowing crates?
In general there are three indoor alternative farrowing systems to the crate: individual farrowing pens, individual temporary crates, or group systems.
Why do sows crush their piglets?
The underlying reason for crushing and overlying is the disparity between the size of the piglet at birth (1.2 kg) and that of the sow (250 kg) and occurs particularly when the sow lies down to rest or to suckle the litter.
How much space do pigs need UK?
The minimum unobstructed floor area for an adult boar is 6 square metres. When you use boar pens for natural servicing (breeding) the floor area must be at least 10 square metres and be free of any obstacles.
How big should a farrowing crate be?
55 x 80 in.
wide; overall size of the farrowing crates is 55 x 80 in. (4.6 x 6.8 ft.). These crates have a middle flip up bar to restrict the sows as they lie down. All sizes of sows are placed in these crates.
Do pigs need a farrowing pen?
A farrowing crate is used to confine the sow from up to a week before giving birth, generally until the piglets are weaned at around four weeks. Farrowing crates are restrictive pens that prevent the sow from turning around, and which aim to reduce the risk of the sow lying on and crushing her newborn piglets.
What are farrowing crates for pigs?
Pig farrowing crates are metal crates within a pen where pregnant sows are placed prior to giving birth. Farrowing crates prevent the sows from turning around and only allow them to move a little forwards and backwards.
Should the UK ban farrowing crates?
“The UK pig industry has already seen this happen when sow stalls were banned in 1999, resulting in a flood of cheaper imports from systems outlawed in this country, leading to the loss of half of the entire sow herd.” She said banning farrowing crates would be a draconian move. “The suggestion is an insult to what we have already achieved.
How are pigs farrowed in the UK?
They have a heated ‘creep’ area to attract the piglets away from the sow when not suckling. Whilst most sows in the UK farrow in crates some producers use indoor pen systems which do not confine the sow, although numbers are limited. Sows are provided with individual shelters (‘arcs’) and straw to build a nest.
What are the alternatives to conventional farrowing crates?
One of the alternatives to conventional farrowing crates is the use of temporary confinement crates. This involves enclosing the sow for a maximum of seven days and then allowing freedom of movement. While still housed indoors, zero confinement pens make use of zoning spaces to allow the sow to farrow and lactate without the need for confinement.