Code Spells ‘Pigs in Crates Forever’

The draft welfare code for pigs, released for public consultation today, continues to allow the pig industry to use cruel crates indefinitely, say animal advocates.

National animal advocacy organisation SAFE says that while the draft code, developed by National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC), does propose to restrict the use of sow stalls before ultimately phasing them out, it excludes banning farrowing crates, used for mothers and their piglets, which are equally cruel.

“According to the draft code, NAWAC intends to reduce the use of sow stalls to the first four weeks of a sow’s pregnancy by the end of 2012 NAWAC also states that a total ban on sow stalls will be set in place after submissions and economic analysis have taken place,” says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.

“NAWAC further states there is no scientific evidence that sow stalls provide significant animal welfare benefits for sows compared to alternative systems, and favours a total ban by December 2017. However SAFE wants a ban now, not in seven years,” says Mr Kriek.

SAFE says the public will be further appalled to hear that once this code is made law, the pig industry will still be permitted to keep sows with piglets, in cruel confinement systems.

“NAWAC has no intention of ending the use of farrowing crates, meaning that tens of thousands of sows will continue to be forced to raise their babies inside the harsh environment of a crate,” says Mr Kriek.

The New Zealand Pork Industry Board delayed the release of the draft code in December last year after threatening NAWAC with legal action.

“SAFE applauds NAWAC for not backing down on its intended sow stall ban despite legal threats by the pig industry, but we have serious concerns that the draft code does not go far enough to prevent widespread suffering in the pig industry,” says Mr Kriek.

Next week SAFE intends to launch its campaign, urging New Zealanders to make a submission calling for an immediate ban on all sow crates.

ENDS

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