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NZ Pork chief executive David Baines told parliament’s primary production select committee on Thursday that a phase out of the crates was a “significant concern” for the industry. “Internationally there is no better practice that has been proven to work than some use of the farrowing crates in mating stalls,” he said. “If we were to have to move away from the current use of farrowing crates for indoor farms we estimate up to 60,000 piglets would die every year.”
ANDY JACKSON/STUFF
Taranaki pig farm manager Leon White discusses the controversy around indoor farrowing system. Baines described the crate as a “maternity pen”, which confined a sow for up to 20 per cent of her life, and provided protection for the piglets so they wouldn’t be crushed, gave them access to the sow’s teat so they wouldn’t starve, and provided a heated area to prevent hypothermia.
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.
Pascal Debrunner
After the recent high court rulings, half the industry will need to reconsider their future, and many will choose to exit pig farming.
OPINION: Last month, the High Court dropped a bombshell. A judge in Wellington made a decision which left pig farmers like me facing an uncertain future almost overnight. The judge ruled that two regulations and two minimum standards in the Pig Code of Welfare, that permit the use of mating stalls and farrowing crates, are now unlawful and invalid. Now, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), which provides independent advice to the Government minister responsible for animal welfare, must assess the validity of New Zealand pig farmers continuing to use the most common indoor farrowing system globally, to raise pigs.