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A variety of sow
housing systems are used in the pig
industry today
There is no one ideal system which meets all the needs of the animal. The single most important factor in addressing the welfare of animals is the husbandry skills of the producer. Change for the sake of change will not benefit the animal and it may endanger food safety, the animal’s health or the environment.
The dominant system
for housing sows for all or part
of their gestation
In Australia, the dominant system for housing sows for all or part of their gestation is in individual stalls. Stalls have been widely adopted by industry as they provide a controlled feeding environment, reduce aggression between sows and deliver a superior reproductive performance. For these reasons, the capital investment by the industry in this form of housing is significant.
The use of sow stalls by Australian pig farmers
has been criticised by some sections of society as a cruel practice. As food producers, pig farmers must pay close attention to the welfare needs of their stock so as to meet food quality and safety requirements. Good animal welfare practices are a key determinant in the sustainability of their farm business. Sound science is the only appropriate measure to determine and balance pig welfare with the sometimes conflicting demands of society, consumers, government and producers.
Current housing systems are continuously evolving
Current housing systems are continuously evolving to improve efficiency, herd health and productivity. Australian pig farmers are committed to developing new alternatives and providing for increased welfare and comfort for their pigs. Pig farmers consider many measures of efficacy in sow housing systems, including:
Sow behaviour
Alternatives to stalls
require significant rebuilding on existing farms as stall houses are not easily converted to open pens. Such conversions would require new buildings with all of the planning and permit issues that accompany them.
Research projects to investigate areas of concern
regarding the management of commercially farmed pigs have found that potential solutions are not definitive in terms of benefits to the health and welfare of the animals themselves. Group housing of sows requires more skilled labour to ensure sow welfare and productivity are maintained, and is coupled with a concern by farmers about recruiting and retaining suitable staff.
Australian pig farmers
firmly believe that animals should be treated with care
The Australian pig industry works closely with its partners to ensure stringent regulations on the care and handling of pigs are followed and met. After all, it is in the best interests of all industry stakeholders to ensure all pigs are raised in the most careful and conscientious manner, anything short of providing the best, humane care possible would be self-defeating.
Farmers must use science
as a basis for their animal husbandry practices because of the significant costs associated with housing facilities, feeding systems and other infrastructure.