NZPork unveils alternative welfare proposals

Earlier this year, the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) released a draft welfare code which NZPork claimed would devastate the sector. The code would see 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.

The feedback period on the draft welfare code ended in early July.

Now, NZPork has unveiled a series of proposals which it claims represent the most significant changes to the industry in a generation.

Included in the proposals are a reduction in the maximum time farrowing crates can be used from the current 33 days to no more than seven days. The proposals also argue for increasing the minimum space allowance for grower pigs by 13% and an elimination of the use of mating stalls for housing sows.

The changes would place New Zealand’s pig welfare standards above those required in the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Canada, Australia and China, NZPork claims.

NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss says the industry supports the need for change but the proposals released by NAWAC in its Draft Code of Welfare for pigs would have unintended negative animal welfare outcomes and drive many pig farmers out of business.

“While NAWAC is an expert committee, it has no expertise or understanding of pig farming,” Kleiss says.

He says NZPork has worked with its technical proposals to develop its alternative proposals, which Kleiss says are based on an in-depth review of contemporary pig welfare science and good practice.

“They are substantial, meaningful and collectively demonstrate welfare standards that go beyond all major pork-producing countries.”

The NZPork proposals also include ensuring all sows are provided with nesting material before farrowing.

Kleiss says NZPork’s alternatives to the NAWAC proposals would still be costly to implement, but they are supported by most commercial pig farmers.

“NAWAC has not considered the substantial cost of its own proposals, which hasn’t been helped by their inability to agree on what represents minimum standard in some cases,” he says.

Kleiss adds that NZPork believes the NAWAC proposals would cost $10,000 - $20,000 per sow on a standard farrow to finish operation, equivalent to more than 20 years profit.

“Our own industry proposals will still need government support along with adequate time to implement change,” he says.

“We urge the Government to work with the pig farming sector to confirm the industry-supported alternative standards and agree to an implementation plan that is achievable for pig farmers and ensure their farms remain financially viable.”