What is sow stall free?
What is sow stall free?
Sow stall-free means that pregnant sows (mother pigs) are not kept in small, single-pig stalls for long periods of time during their pregnancy. Our farmers must ensure their pigs are free to move around in pens and socialise with other mother pigs during their pregnancy.
Why are sow stalls bad?
A sow stall is a metal cage – usually with a bare concrete/slatted floor – which is so narrow that the sow cannot turn around, and she can only stand up and lie down with difficulty. Sow stalls deprive pregnant sows of almost all natural behaviours; they cannot explore, exercise, forage or socialise.
Are sow stalls banned in the UK?
Sow stalls have been banned in the EU since January 2013, although their use is allowed for up to four weeks after mating. They have been completely banned in the UK since 1999.
Are pig cages banned in UK?
Despite a petition which aimed to outlaw their use, farrowing crates are still legal in the UK. Today approximately 58% of UK sows are kept in farrowing crates around the time of giving birth. None of these is on RSPCA Assured farms as farrowing crates are strictly prohibited.
When were sow stalls banned in UK?
1999
Sow stalls Individual stalls prevent sows from turning around, allowing only limited movement forwards and backwards. They were banned in the EU in January 2013 although their use is permitted for up to four weeks after mating. They were completely banned in the UK in 1999.
Are pig crates banned in the UK?
Are farrowing crates legal? Despite a petition which aimed to outlaw their use, farrowing crates are still legal in the UK. Today approximately 58% of UK sows are kept in farrowing crates around the time of giving birth. None of these is on RSPCA Assured farms as farrowing crates are strictly prohibited.
How are sow stalls used in pig production?
Sow Stalls or Crates are used to confine individual sows in intensive pig production. These stalls are very restrictive and do not allow free and natural movement by the sow. All she can do is stand up or lie down. She cannot turn around.
What’s the difference between sow stall free pork?
Sow-stall free pork The Australian pig industry has committed to phasing out sow stalls and moving all female breeding pigs (sows) to indoor group housing, an initiative strongly supported by the RSPCA. The term ‘sow-stall free’ is used to differentiate pork product from pigs that have been born to sows in group housing.
What does it mean to have sow stall free?
Sow Stall Free means that sows will not be kept in these stalls, instead the animals will be group housed in sheds. Sow Stall Free only applies to the Coles brand of pork.
What makes a pig a free range pig?
Free-range pork comes from pigs that were born and raised with free access to the outdoors. That is, where the sows and growing piglets have access to paddocks, as well as huts or other forms of housing for shelter, and are not confined to sow stalls (for pregnant sows) or farrowing crates (for lactating sows and their piglets).