“Schillinger Farms is Prop 12 compliant in California.”
“Small Town Genetics is Prop 12 certified.”
Messages like these are popping up on social media and in advertisements as show pig producers who’ve run through the hoops to become Proposition 12 certified prepare to sell show pigs in California in the 2024 season.
“We didn’t really have a choice if we wanted to continue to sell show pigs into California,” says Chris Schillinger of Evansville, Ind., who recently became Prop 12 certified. “It was a business decision.”
Show pig producers Kyle and Ellen Knauth of Milford, Ill., also sell pigs in online auctions or through private treaty sales to California.
“We felt it was necessary to have our operation audited and compliant with Prop 12 mandates so that we could continue to serve our customers. We are grateful to sell pigs across the country and decided this was a hurdle worth jumping through,” Kyle Knauth says.
For California show pig producer James Backman of Small Town Genetics in Denair, becoming Prop 12 certified was a no-brainer.
“We can’t sell pigs to county fairs without being Prop 12 compliant, with the exception of a couple of fairs,” Backman says. “County fairs are requiring pigs to be Prop 12 certified because they could go through a county fair auction and be sold to a California pork processor.”
Although Proposition 12 may not be discussed in the show pig industry much, it’s important for producers to understand how it also applies to them.
How Does Prop 12 Impact Show Pig Producers?
Prop 12 requires any whole pork meat sold within California to originate from pigs born to sows that have been provided at least 24 square feet of floor space and can stand up, turn around and stretch their limbs without touching the sides of the enclosure or another animal. There’s an exception to this for farrowing but it requires sows to be immediately moved back to open pens once the piglets are weaned. During breeding, the proposition only allows confinement of a sow for 6 hours within a 24-hour period and no more than 24 hours in any 30-day period.
These rules are applicable across all counties in California. As well, any county fair in the state that features a terminal premium auction must show Prop 12-compliant hogs, according to Showpig.com.
“Exhibitors are required to present documentation verifying certification. However, if a participant exhibits a breeding gilt that will not be processed and consumed in California, compliance with Prop 12 is not mandatory. It is recommended to check with your county extension office, ag teachers, and/or fair officials for rules specific to each show, as they may vary,” Showpig.com advises.
Although Prop 12’s housing requirement does not apply to pigs while they are being shown at fairs, it is applicable to the sows of these pigs if they are eventually destined for commercial harvesting and processing with their whole pork meat sold in California. In contrast, if the pig is sold to an individual who then processes independently, or has it processed for personal consumption, Prop 12 regulations do not apply, explains the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
According to the guidelines, the sale of a live animal does not fall under the Animal Confinement regulations. However, the sale of a covered product (whole pork meat from a market hog) does fall under the definition of “sale” and will need to be whole pork meat compliant with Animal Confinement regulatory requirements.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, all whole pork meat sold within California must receive certification from a state-authorized firm. Auditors will ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, particularly in terms of record-keeping. Based on how most show pig farms operate, most producers will already be compliant with Prop 12.
Prop 12 Certification for Show Pig Producers
“If you want to sell pigs to California, it’s simply what you have to do,” Backman says. “If you are Prop 12 certified, you now have a great tool to market pigs in California because the fairs have told 4-H leaders, FFA advisors and kids that it’s a big deal.”
Schillinger says he researched the CDFA’s website for information and talked to several producers who were in the process of getting Prop 12 audits.
“We decided to use Cloverleaf Animal Welfare Systems to do our audit,” Schillinger says.
Meanwhile, one of Knauth’s customers in California initiated the conversation he had with the company that performed their farm’s audit.
“We started with an email, and it was pretty simple to set up. Within a few weeks of the initial contact, we had an auditor on the farm with us measuring pens and counting sows,” Knauth says.
The certification process involves a brief visit to the operation where auditors assess the conditions. The most crucial preparatory step is to complete the necessary paperwork, which includes proof of record-keeping and a detailed map of your operation, Knauth explains.
He says the application asked for basic information including size of the operation, number of animals, and rough measurements of sow housing. A record of sales to California was also provided so the Knauths could show the chain of custody of animals sold to the state.
“The on-farm audit took about an hour. The auditor walked through all of our sow housing. He measured each pen and counted the number of sows in the pen to ensure they each had the mandatory 24 sq. ft.,” Knauth says. “He also made note if we had pens available to house sick or injured animals for short periods of time.”
Kyle Dadson, a show pig producer in Paso Robles, Calif., recommends keeping a list of all sow movement on your facility, when sows get moved into farrowing crates and when they are pulled out. Auditors will also want records on what pens the sows were housed in and when they moved to a different pen.
“Everybody’s situation will be a little different,” Backman points out. “The key is good recordkeeping and understanding what you need to do on your operation.”
CDFA offers free auditing services for pork producers in California. Out-of-state operators may need to hire an independent auditor, which could incur fees, Showpig.com points out.
After going through the process to become Prop 12 certified, Knauth says it was pretty straightforward.
“Don’t be intimidated,” Knauth says. “Everyone we encountered answered any questions we had and helped us along the way.”
Schillinger admits the worry leading up to the audit was the worst part of the process. The audit itself wasn’t difficult.
“It’s just part of what we have to do to sell pigs in California,” Schillinger adds. “We already have next year’s audit scheduled.”
Read More:
Prop 12: What to Expect During an On-Site Inspection
Resources:
California Department of Food and Agriculture. (n.d.). Accredited certifying agents. CDFA.
California Department of Food and Agriculture. (n.d.-b). Animal Care Program. CDFA.
California Department of Food and Agriculture . (n.d.). Guidance for Fairs and Exhibitions Stakeholders.
