Legislation and Activism in European Pig Production

Mike SheldonPig Producer and

BPEX Board Member

Agenda

• A little about me• Legislation• Activism• Market led change• Industry adaptation• Discussion

A little about me

Pig Welfare – British Experience

• The British are regarded as a nation of animal lovers. The RSPCA was formed in 1824 and became a Royal society in 1840

• We have a long history of legislation and farming practice to protect the welfare of the animals in our care

• Most recently a unilateral ban in gestation stalls was enacted in the UK in 1999 – against the will of most pig farmers

• A cautionary tale

Exporting our industry(December census 1997=100)

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Exporting our industry(December census 1997=100)

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UK EU

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Exporting our industry(December census 1997=100)

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UK EU Denmark

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Pig Welfare – Words Count

• Animals, including farm animals, are formally recognised as “sentient beings” in fundamental EU legislation (Treaty of Lisbon, December 2009)

• In short this means that animals are recognised as being capable of feeling things

• This has subsequently been interpreted by animal activist groups as animals “have feelings”

• The result is that animal activist groups have drawn up a long agenda aimed at changing farming practices or even the elimination of conventional animal agriculture

Pig Welfare – Current Legislative Agenda

• Tethering of gestating sows banned in EU from 2006

• Conventional cages for laying hens banned in EU from 2012

• Gestation stalls banned in EU from 2013 (except for 4 weeks after mating)

• Limits on duration of journey

EU egg prices have rocketed since the ban on battery cages – could the same happen to pig prices?

Mixed picture on compliance with the ban on sow stalls

• Three Member States already 100% compliant (UK, Sweden, Luxembourg)

• Twelve others say they will be 100% compliant by January 2013

• Five say they will be at least 90% compliant• Four say they will be 70-90% compliant• Three may still be less than 70% compliant

Impact on trade patterns

• What will happen in January ’13?• And in subsequent years?

Scenario 1 (Moderate Enforcement)

• Farmgate price up >10%• 2013 production down 5% on 2011• Recovery (in NW Europe at least) to 2011

levels inside 3 years

Scenario 2 (Strict Enforcement)

• Farmgate price up substantially• 2013 production down 10% on 2011• Strong recovery in NW Europe in sow

numbers• Prospect of 3rd country access to EU market

• Rapid increase in sow numbers in NW Europe (along with decrease in finishing)

• Finishing and slaughter grown by integrators in Eastern Europe

• Net result is more efficiency, lower prices, greater competitiveness on world markets

Scenario 3 (Major realignment of trade)

Not just stalls

• Space• Slats• Manipulable materials

Space

• In pig gilt: 1.64m2 (17.7ft2)• Sow: 2.25m2 (24.2ft2)• Up 10% when group size is <6• “Unencumbered space” means free access

stall may not count

Slats

• Minimum solid width– <30kg: 50mm (c.2.0 inches)– >30kg: 80mm (c.3.1 inches)

• Maximum slot width– Piglets: 11mm (c.0.4 inches)– Weaners: 14mm (c.0.6 inches)– Finishers: 18mm (c.0.7 inches)– Gilts/sows: 20mm (c.0.8 inches)

• Tolerance

Manipulable Materials

• What campaigners really want is permanent access to bedding

• Current implementation of rules accepts that this is impossible to deliver

• Future implementation of rules is reducing wiggle room

Transport

• What’s coming?• Implications

Pig Welfare – Current Activism

• Castration• Harling case study

Castration

• UK does not castrate• Everyone else does• Indeed German law says you have to

Change ahead of legislation

• Market led?• Activist victory?• Industry adaptation?

Harling Case Study

• New activist group “Animal Equality” originating in Spain

Harling Case Study

• Extreme technique– Employee filming– 3 months– 6 months delay

Harling Case Study

• Publications in Sunday Times• Media storm• Dreadful footage

Harling Case Study

• Farmer took his own life• Farm closed

Resulting Agenda

• How to modify assurance– Standards– Audit

• How to help members– Handle pressure– Handle trade exclusion

Pig Welfare – Forthcoming Agenda

• Tail reduction• Teeth clipping/grinding• Farrowing crates• Flooring systems, especially fully slatted

flooring• Welfare outcomes

Welfare Outcomes

• UK research initiative (BPEX, Royal Vet College, Bristol University)

• UK implementation (“Real Welfare”)• EU agenda (Euro 17 million project)

What is Welfare Outcomes?

• Reflects the management of the pigs • Good welfare is achievable whatever

housing type is used

• Scientifically validated measures of welfare that we can record by looking at the pig, not the pens

The Measures

SowsHospital pigsLamenessThin sows (<BCS 2)Body marksShoulder lesionsVulva lesionsEnrichment use

Finishers (>50kg only)Hospital pigsLameness

Body marksTail lesions

Enrichment use

Enrichment use = “outcome” of the enrichment – is the enrichment fit for purpose i.e. being used in preference to other objects & pigs?

Measures which accurately reflect routine management, highly unlikely to change on the day of the visit.

Benchmark Results - Lameness

Tail biting (finishers)

(any mark)LQ Med

UQ Ave 90% 95%

Summary

• Legislation• Activism• Market led change• Industry led change

Thank You

www.bpex.org.uk