Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 4th December 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Pig industry 'should move away from farrowing crates'
pig
Confinement aims to protect piglet life but also reduces sow mobility.
Government opinion report calls for change
 
The pig industry should replace traditional farrowing crates with free farrowing systems, according to a recent 'opinion' report by the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC).

For the past 50 years, the UK's indoor pig industry has been reliant on the close confinement of sows during the farrowing and lactating period. Systems for doing so without confinement have only recently been commercially adopted.

The aim is to protect piglet life by reducing the amount of crushing, as sows weigh around 150 times that of their offspring. It also makes sows and litters easier to handle and improves safety for stock people.

However, this may conflict with sow welfare as it reduces mobility and prevents normal behaviour such as nest building.

According to FAWC's report, nest building is an important behaviour, but is not possible in many confined farrowing systems.

Farrowing crates have already been banned in Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Other European countries are developing and marketing free farrowing systems and there is interest in Australia and the US.

A number of commercial producers and smallholders in the UK have installed free farrowing systems. Some assurance standards, such as RSPCA Assured, require sows to be able to turn around freely at all times.

The 1965 Brambell Report on livestock welfare envisaged confinement of a few days, but this has extended to a few weeks (covering the whole farrowing and lactating period).

In its report, FAWC recommends a change in the way sow accommodation is viewed and considered, reflecting this change in management practices. It also calls for a review in five years' time, at which point legislation to phase out crates could be considered.

FAWC also recommended that producers increase direct supervision during farrowing and the post-farrowing period, to reduce piglet mortalities.

Read the full report here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farm-animal-welfare-committee-fawc-opinion-on-free-farrowing-systems

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.