The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called for banning the use of farrowing creates for sows, phasing them out over a 15-year period, according to a release. The decision came based on new statistics released from a BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which showed 75% of United Kingdom veterinarians are concerned about the negative impacts of farrowing crates on animal welfare.
The sow herd in Europe is around 10 million head with 60% of sows in farrowing crates a week before giving birth until pigs are weaned at around four weeks old.
The BVA and the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS), which is a special division of BVA, outlined their joint recommendations for change in a release:
- Farrowing crates in their current form should be banned and replaced by a system that maximizes sow and piglet welfare and ensures human safety.
- A clearly mapped out 15-year transition period should be implemented and, unless already agreed upon, no more of the current farrowing crates should be put into use. The position encourages new-build farrowing buildings to either be a form of adaptive farrowing accommodation or free farrowing.
- The stages of shifting away from the current system to the new system must be clearly laid out and adequately funded by the United Kingdom government and the governments of the devolved nations where appropriate. Any transition away must factor in the direction of travel in the European Union to ensure symmetry and equal opportunities for UK producers.
- UK government, the governments of the devolved nations and supermarket retailers should also carry out an awareness raising campaign around farrowing systems and the incoming changes to inform consumers ahead of the ban and during the transition period.
- During the transition period, there should be shared learning of best practice to enable farmers and producers to confidently and competently support animal welfare in the new farrowing accommodations.
“Whilst farrowing crates protect some aspects of the welfare of piglets, this controversial safeguarding method comes at the expense of the sows who are forced to live with restrictions on their natural behaviours and movements for extended periods of time,” British Veterinary Association President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, says in the news release. “It’s time for change, and working closely with the Pig Veterinary Society, we’ve created a balanced, pragmatic and evidence-led position which calls on the UK government to move towards a total ban of their use.”
Mullineaux recognizes it will take time for the industry to adapt, which is why BVA recommends a transition period of up to 15 years, backed by sufficient resource to support producers making a shift to reduced confinement of sows or free farrowing.
“The UK is known across the world for our high standards of animal welfare, and we must take action now to move away from this outdated system,” she adds.
Pig Veterinary Society President Prof Dan Tucker says there is research backing the elimination of farrowing crates to support sows needs while also protecting piglets.
“We want the UK’s sows to have as good a life as possible but it is clear that traditional farrowing crates restrict the ability of farrowing and nursing sows to perform many normal behaviours,” he explains. “There is now sufficient research-based evidence to support systems that optimize the balance between the sows’ needs, piglet health and welfare, and also stock keeper safety.”
BVA and PVS recommend a phased transition to help avoid potential economic risks to producers.
“Implementation of these new farrowing systems needs to be at a pace that allows producers to work with their veterinarians in optimizing best management practice; the goal being to minimize and ultimately negate any compromise to piglets or stock keeper safety associated with this increased sow freedom,” Tucker says. “PVS supports the transition away from total farrowing confinement, but it needs to be done in conjunction with financial support from government and retailers.”
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