STALLS BANNED...WHAT NEXT?

Questions are being asked as to why it is taking so long to ban sow stalls and what happens now. Find out the answers.
 

Great that sow stalls are finally going to be banned. December 2015 is still a long way off. Why can't it be done quicker?

SAFE of course wants sow stalls stopped immediately. The reason the government opted for a five years phase out is that the faster a ban is introduced the greater the cost for the industry. Changing to new systems also requires resource consent and that can be a long drawn out process. Overseas bans on sow stalls have often taken a ten-year phase out so the New Zealand ban is not as slow as it could have been.

Why are farrowing crates still allowed?

SAFE is disappointed that farrowing crates continue to be used. The government believes that there are no economical alternatives to farrowing crates at this stage but will ban farrowing crates when these alternatives become available. SAFE disagrees with this. Over 30 per cent of New Zealand pig farmers do not use farrowing crates and are meeting standards set in the code of welfare. This indicates that the government believes that pigs can be farmed in an acceptable manner without using farrowing crates.

Now that sow stalls are going to be banned, is SAFE's pig campaign over?

No, not at all. In fact the sow stall ban will give the campaign fresh energy and will allow us to focus on other areas of concern in the pig industry. Farrowing crates and fattening pens will now come under the spotlight as these two systems cause a lot of suffering.

Who or what will SAFE focus on now the code review process is finished?

SAFE will concentrate its efforts on consumers and supermarkets. Consumers now play the main role in getting pigs out of crates quicker, by not buying factory-farmed pork products. They can also put pressure on supermarkets to move away from factory-farmed products and to provide better labelling on products.

Will the ban on sow stalls increase the price of pork and will this make New Zealand pig farmers less competitive with overseas producers.

Some pig producers may want to increase their price as they have to bear the cost of a change over. The majority of New Zealand pig farmers however do not use sow stalls anyway so will not be affected by the ban. New Zealand pork products are already more expense than the overseas imports. Having better welfare standards in place will in fact give the New Zealand industry a point of difference and justification to charge a higher price compared to the imported factory-farmed pork products entering this country.

What is the best thing people can do to help New Zealand pigs now?

If you really want to help the pigs...don't eat them! Adopting a vegetarian diet is the only way to ensure that animals do not suffer just because we like the taste of their flesh. If you are not prepared to give up meat, at least ensure that you are not supporting cruel factory farming practices. Avoid all factory-farmed products and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

What about the battery hens?

The layer hen code of welfare will be reviewed early next year and SAFE will do for battery hens what we have just done for the pigs. SAFE will start a strong campaign, seeking a ban on battery hen cages and mobilizing the New Zealand public behind the campaign. Battery hen cages are in breach of the Animal Welfare Act and SAFE is confident that it can achieve a ban on this cruel and outdated farming practice.

Helpful facts to help defend pigs

• Sows confined in sow stalls cannot perform most of their natural behaviour, as is required under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. They cannot walk or turn around, and can only sit down or stand up.

• During a review of the pig welfare code in the early 2000s the government received over 60,000 public submissions calling for a ban on the use of sow stalls.

• A Colmar Brunton opinion poll commissioned by the RNZSPCA in late 2001 found that 86 pre cent of those surveyed believed the use of sow stalls was unacceptable.

• Sow stalls have been banned in the United Kingdom and Sweden and are being phased out in Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark.

• The government acknowledged in 2005 that sow stalls did not meet the obligations of the Animal Welfare Act 1999, but despite this they did not ban their use.

• The ‘phase out' of sow stalls planned from 2015 is in reality only a reduction in their use to four weeks per pregnancy. When this is combined with the six weeks sows spend confined in farrowing crates, sows will still legally be able to be severely confined for almost half their lives.

• Approximately 45% of the sows farmed in New Zealand (about 21,000 animals) are confined to sow stalls the same size as those seen on the Sunday programme.

• Only 29% of pig farmers use sow stalls. Most New Zealand pig farmers have been successfully using alternatives for many years.

• There is considerable scientific evidence that pigs kept in intensive farms suffer from depression, psychological distress, frustration, lung and heart disease, leg problems and lameness, and display stereotypic behaviour such as bar biting.

Factsheet on pigs

Click here to view SAFE's information sheet all about pig welfare in New Zealand.

Frequently asked questions

Being a great advocate for pigs means you need to know your stuff!
Here are some commonly asked questions that will help you speak out for pigs.

Do the pigs really suffer?

Confined pigs can suffer from boredom, apathy and depression. They are also prone to lameness and painful chronic joint disorders as well as heart, lung, urinary and digestive diseases. Sow stalls cause severe stress resulting in unnatural behaviours such as head weaving and bar biting.

Is factory farming really that bad?

Factory farming is particularly cruel as pigs are highly intelligent and social animals. Pigs need continual stimulation, social interaction and lots of open space. Factory farming deprives pigs of their most basic needs: fresh air, sunlight, mud baths, clean water, soft bedding and fresh food. Pigs are regarded much like cars - units there to make a profit. There is little room for compassion on the factory farm.

What are the alternatives to factory farming?

Group housing and free-range farming offer a better quality of life for pigs and improve their welfare. Free-range farms offer pigs a better life but they are not pig sanctuaries. Free-range pigs are still killed for their meat. For those who oppose the killing of animals choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is the best way to save animals.

Farming pigs outside is too expensive?

Many pig farmers already farm their sows outside and they sell their products at the same price as intensive farmers. Meat from outdoor-farmed fattening pigs is around 20 per cent more expensive. A small price to pay for a much better quality of life.

Don’t outdoor pigs suffer greater welfare problems?

Outdoor farmed pigs enjoy a much happier and healthier life than indoor farmed pigs. Any welfare problems that arise are usually caused by poor management and can largely be avoided through better education and training of pig farmers.

Did you know. . .

Pigs love eating berries, nuts, cabbages, roots and insects.

Pigs are among the most intelligent species akin to humans, primates, dolphins and whales.

Pigs are quick learners and have an acute sense of smell. They have even been used by police departments to sniff out drugs!

Pigs can recognise up to 20-30 other pigs and often form friendships, greeting each other with grunting and nose-to-nose contact.

Squeal like a pig! The sound of a frightened pig can measure 115 decibels. A jet engine taking off measures 113 decibels!