Last year, the High Court ruled that some regulations and minimum standards in the Pig Code of Welfare that permit the use of farrowing crates were unlawful. Following that ruling, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee began an assessment of the validity of pig farmers continuing to use the system to raise pigs.
ANDY JACKSON/Stuff
Sows in farrowing crates at the Stanley Brothers piggery in Taranaki. Farmers say the crates balance the needs and welfare of the sow with those of her piglets but opponents say they are cruel and should be banned. The court also directed Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to consider recommending changes which would see them phased out.
Sasha Borissenko: Report finds gaps in Animal Welfare Act nzherald.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nzherald.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Opinion: Why banning pig farrowing crates is a backwards step
18 Feb, 2021 12:15 AM
6 minutes to read
Sow in a farrowing crate. Photo / NZ Pork
The Country
Opinion: Taranaki pig farmer Karl Stanley explains why he is frustrated with the Government s decision to phase out the traditional use of farrowing crate and mating stall systems in the pork industry.
Last year, the future was looking bright.
Our family-run pig farm in Taranaki was a finalist in the Ballance Farm Environment regional awards for Taranaki.
We were also investing almost $1 million in new indoor farrowing systems – essentially maternity wards for sows - to ensure the welfare of our piglets and future-proof our business for generations to come.
Supplied
A court has ordered that Kyra, a Siberian Husky cross, be put down after she attacked another dog outside her owner s property.
A Siberian husky cross has been on death row at a Christchurch pound for 16 months while its owner tries to stop his beloved pet being put down. Four-year-old Kyra was impounded in September 2019 after she escaped from a Christchurch property and attacked another dog. The previous month, a jogger was out running with his dog when Kyra broke through the fence and latched onto its rear.
ALDEN WILLIAMS/Stuff
Shane van der Veen has been fighting for 16 months to try and save his dog Kyra from destruction.
Friday, 22 January 2021, 11:12 am | NZALA Northland farmer Derek Robinson was sentenced earlier today by the District Court
in Whangarei for two offences of ill-treating animals at rodeo events. Mr Robinson
was found guilty in November last year, following a defended hearing. The charges . More
Wednesday, 11 November 2020, 8:25 am | NZALA The Whangarei District Court found Northland farmer Derek Robinson guilty of ill-treating
rodeo animals after he used a live electric prodder on two distressed steers. The
Court also found that Mr Robinson used his prodder unnecessarily on 22 other rodeo . More
Thursday, 25 September 2014, 2:32 pm | NZALA
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