NZ Pork unveils pig welfare proposals
NEW Zealand’s pork sector has put forward changes to the way pigs are farmed, as an alternative to plans proposed by the Government.
Earlier this year, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (Nawac) released its proposed code of welfare for pigs and associated regulations.
The Nawac’s proposals included changes to the minimum space allowance for grower pigs, and a ban, or significant limitation, on the traditional use of farrowing crates among several other measures.
NZ Pork chief executive Brent Kleiss said the industry supported the need for change, but the proposals released by Nawac would have unintended negative animal welfare outcomes and drive many pig farmers out of business.
He said it could devastate the sector.
NZ Pork said its new proposals represented ‘‘the most significant changes to the industry in a generation’’.
They included. —
Reducing the maximum time farrowing crates can be used from the current 33 days to no more than seven days, and no more than four days after sows give birth.
Ensuring all sows are provided with nesting material before farrowing.
Increasing the minimum space allowance for grower pigs by 13%.
Eliminating the use of mating stalls for housing sows.
NZ Pork said it also sought to retain ‘‘an outcomebased approach’’ to deciding when piglets should be weaned, rather than the ‘‘inflexible’’ minimum weaning age proposed by the Nawac.
NZ Pork said the changes would place New Zealand’s standards beyond those required in the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Canada, Australia and China — which collectively produce most of the world’s pork and supply most of the pork exported to New Zealand.
While the Nawac was an expert committee, he believed it did not
NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss
understand pig farming the way NZ Pork did, Mr Kleiss said.
‘‘NZ Pork has worked with our technical advisers to develop alternative proposals, which are based on a rigorous indepth review of contemporary pig welfare science and good practice.
‘‘They are substantial, meaningful and collectively demonstrate welfare standards that go beyond all major porkproducing countries.’’
Although NZ Pork’s alternatives to the Nawac’s proposals would be costly to implement, they had the support of most commercial pig farmers, Mr Kleiss said.
‘‘Nawac has not considered the substantial cost to industry of its own proposals, which hasn’t been helped by their inability to agree on what represents minimum standard in some cases.’’
NZ Pork believed the Nawac proposals could cost around $10,000$20,000 per sow, on a standard farrow, to finish operation — the equivalent of more than 20 years of profit, Mr Kleiss said.
‘‘Our own industry proposals will still need government support along with adequate time to implement change.
‘‘We urge the Government to work with the pig farming sector to confirm the industrysupported alternative standards and agree to an implementation plan that is achievable for pig farmers and ensure their farms remain financially viable.’’ — The Country
❛ Nawac has not considered the substantial cost to industry of its own proposals, which hasn’t been helped by their inability to agree on what represents minimum standard in some cases