The use of farrowing crates causes significant animal welfare problems for both sow and piglets. For piglets, their use is associated with stillbirth, poorer maternal attention, and a lack of enrichment and sow-piglet interaction. For sows, the crate restricts the expression of almost all normal behaviour, including turning around, walking, and maternal and nesting behaviours, and is associated with health problems such as pressure sores and lameness. Prolonged confinement has a negative impact on the mental wellbeing of sows, who can experience frustration, boredom, pain and distress.

SPCA supports a move towards a farrowing system that protects the welfare of both the sow and the piglets.

Pigs are highly motivated to build a nest before giving birth. All farrowing and lactating sows should have access to abundant nesting material and be provided with farrowing accommodation with enough space for separate lying/nesting, dunging and feeding areas. Giving sows enough space and the ability to display nesting behaviour has been shown to reduce piglet mortality.

SPCA considers that pig breeding companies should select traits that promote mothering abilities and stop selecting for increasingly large litters.

SPCA is opposed to the ‘maternity ring’ farrowing system.

The maternity ring was developed in Australia as a farrowing alternative to crates that preserve space whilst providing the sow with enough room to turn around. We recognise that research indicates that this offers some welfare improvements in comparison to farrowing crates. However, the maternity ring has the same overall footprint as a traditional farrowing crate and uses fully slatted flooring, precluding normal nesting and elimination behaviour.

SPCA wants to see more research into the costs and benefits to animal welfare associated with the maternity ring system before it is deployed widely. Investing significantly in any new farrowing system should be supported by clear and robust animal welfare assessments so that farmers do not invest in systems which are eventually shown to be inadequate for animal welfare and do not meet the expectations of consumers.