The Use of Farrowing Crates for Sows

Policy

The NZVA supports the continued use of farrowing crates in the New Zealand pig industry provided active research is maintained to improve crate design and/or provide practical alternatives.

Explanation

1. Individual housing of sows confers the following advantages:-
   1. Improved attention to individual feeding requirements for both sows and piglets
   2. Protected piglet creep area
   3. Reduction in temperature variation
   4. More individual attention
   5. Reduction of cannibalism by other sows
   6. Improved disease control for sow and piglet
2. The welfare concerns about adequate space for the sow, the inability to express normal nesting behaviour and the physical bruising resulting in shin damage that can occur by holding sows in farrowing crates, are outweighed by the advantages.
3. Out door farrowing piggeries do operate in New Zealand, but this system of rearing pigs is not practical for the majority of New Zealand pig farmers and can incur disadvantages to health and breeding capacity.
4. Group housing of dry sows is a very successful system of management and individual housing of dry sows is not recommended.
5. The Pig Veterinary Society of NZVA, in association with the New Zealand Pig Industry Board, will actively review international literature relevant to housing of pigs and will promote the replacement of individual stalls when proven alternatives are found.

Guidelines

1. Concern for the welfare of the animal is paramount in establishing the suitability of any housing system for enclosing sows.  This must obviously involve the piglets, which are especially vulnerable to death by crushing and chilling within the first 48 hours of life.  Well-designed, constructed and maintained farrowing crates minimise crushing and chilling.
2. NZVA supports the recommendations found within the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee ‘Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Pigs’ with regard to the nutritional and environmental requirements of the sow and piglets within the farrowing crate.
3. All piggery staff involved in the farrowing unit must be properly aware of potential disadvantages of the systems employed on their farm and take steps to ensure these are minimised.  They should be aware of nutritional and environmental requirements of the groups of animals under their care.
4. The crates used should allow the sow freedom from obvious points of injury, access to sufficient food and ad lib water, have acceptable flooring and be maintained to an adequate standard of repair.
5. Crates should be cleaned and disinfected adequately prior to the sow entering the crate.  Faecal contamination of the crate should be minimised to reduce the potential for piglet contamination and sow vaginitis.
6. Flooring used in crates should be of material to minimise trauma to the sow and piglet.  Ideally this should be non-slip to allow the sow to move with least potential to cause leg problems to herself and injure the piglets when lying down.
7. Tethers should not be used on sows in crates.

Policy Files: 

7a - Farrowing Crates - 16Aug96.pdf