Pig farmer given warning

A Timaru pig farmer investigated over animal welfare concerns has been given a warning by the Ministry for Primary Industries but he will not face prosecution.

MPI manager of compliance investigations Gary Orr said the farmer was investigated after the department received covert video footage from animal rights group Farmwatch. As a result of its investigation, the farmer had received a formal warning, and MPI would not be pursuing further action after considering a number of factors, Orr said.

‘‘Those factors include that the farmer’s actions were motivated by a genuine desire to ensure the animals’ overall physical and health needs.

‘‘We also took note of the pig expert’s findings that said, overall, the 1500 pigs were being adequately cared for and there were no immediate animal welfare issues.’’

MPI animal welfare inspectors and a pig expert visited the farm in July to determine whether there was any evidence of breaches of the Animal Welfare Act or associated regulations. On the day of the unannounced inspection, there was no evidence of any breaches, and the expert found the pigs to be in good health. However, two sows on the farm were moved after it was established they were too big for the farrowing crates they were in.

MPI then viewed footage provided by Farmwatch and noted two pregnant sows in stalls, which is considered a breach of the Animal Welfare Act. The farmer advised MPI that the sows were being kept in the stalls temporarily to manage aggressive behaviour.