Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 28
1 A. No, they are differently designed because usually with
2 farrowing crates, there is some sort of an effort to let
3 the pigs get away, to have a bit of area so that they can
4 get away, but easily get access to the sow so that she can
5 suckle them.
6
7 So, the sow is really lying on her side with the teats
8 exposed and the piglets then get their particular teat when
9 they want to. So, the idea is that they will do that but,
10 of course, if she had wanted to turn over while they are
11 still tipped on to the teat, well, then she may turn over
12 and smother them. So, that is the problem. It is a
13 different design.
14
15 Q. Sorry, I meant in terms of, for example, being able to turn
16 around and how much space is at the front and back of the
17 pig, is that roughly the same?
18 A. There is a bit more space in the farrowing pen. When
19 I yesterday used the dimensions, I think it was a full page
20 spread of The Times, was about the width that is available
21 for a sow when she has got the length -- not very much over
22 but she has got the length -- but she has, of course, to
23 turn over fairly frequently, so she has the room to do
24 that. If she is fairly agile and, of course, you have to
25 remember that she is in a pregnancy state when she is not
26 all that agile because she has piglets around, she has very
27 bulky udders, that is not easy.
28
29 But the thing really is also you have to arrange that she
30 cannot escape. She can possibly get out for a small area
31 but you have also to have an arrangement so that the
32 piglets cannot get out all over the place.
33
34 Q. In terms of the welfare concerns related to size, do you
35 have the same concerns about the farrowing crate as you do
36 for the dry sow stall?
37 A. Yes, there are concerns that the sow has not got enough
38 freedom to escape from the piglets, if you like. I mean,
39 every mother, I think, wants occasionally a rest. She has
40 not got the opportunity to do that. She has a rather
41 barren environment. This puts a stress on her. It is also
42 a question of disease.
43
44 You might like to know the RSPCA, they have a freedom
45 scheme for food, and thee is another aspect to this.
46 I went to visit one of their demonstrations and they
47 actually had six of these farrowing pens, sorry, eight of
48 these farrowing pens in an area that would normally be
49 occupied by 12. Now, here you see the problem that the
50 farmer has to allocate that extra capital expenditure to
51 operate it according to that plan.
52
53 Now, the perinatal mortality in that system was actually
54 higher than it was in the standard system. It is very,
55 very difficult in this sort of intensive production to
56 achieve good standards of husbandry, a good veterinary
57 practice.
58
59 Q. So what is the solution, in your view?
60 A. The solution is that you go back to a feral state. You
