Do you have thoughts about how pigs should be raised in Canada? Now is your chance to share your concerns about pig welfare and make a difference.
The National Farm Animal Care Council has announced that the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs, published in 2014, will be updated. The Code contains requirements and recommended practices for on-farm care.
An essential first step in the Code development process is the initial survey to capture top welfare concerns from all interested individuals. The input received will help the Code Development Committee understand the kinds of issues people wish to see considered in the update. Everyone is invited to participate! The survey is open until June 4—submit your thoughts now!
To ensure your submission is reviewed, please follow these tips:
- Use your own words – share your unique perspective; identical submissions may be ignored
- Be concise – the survey does not provide much room to enter your submission
- Be polite – submissions that include profanity or derogatory language will not be considered
- Address on-farm welfare issues (e.g., not off-farm transportation, slaughter)
Key welfare issues for pigs that we would like to see addressed include:
- Freedom of movement in housing
- Complete the phase-out of gestation stalls, and limit the use of farrowing crates (both forms of restrictive housing)
- Provide bigger space allowances in group housing
- Environmental enrichment
- Multiple forms of enrichment should be provided for all pigs, with enough for each to access
- Reduce and eliminate painful practices by adjusting management
- Provide analgesics and anesthetics when painful procedures are used
- Address the causes of lameness
- Improve flooring, and address infections and metabolic issues
- Add measurable goals to reduce the rate of lameness
- Prohibit blunt force trauma euthanasia
- The Code currently considers this an approved euthanasia method
- Address welfare concerns created by feed restriction in gestating sows and boars
Reminder – you can use this list as a starting point, but please use your own words.
Next steps
After the survey closes, the Code Development Committee, comprised of farmers, veterinarians, an animal welfare representative, researchers, a transporter, government representatives, and others, will review the submissions and create a list of priority welfare issues.
A group of researchers will compile the most recent research on these topics to help the Code Development Committee create a science-informed Code. A draft Code will be released in approximately two years for public review and comment. The BC SPCA will share the draft Code when it is ready.