Farrowing requirements
A reminder to pork producers about their obligations for farrowing: the current requirements are set out within Minimum Standard No. 10 in the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010 .
In particular if you are constructing new farrowing systems, please note (h) ‘in any farrowing system constructed after December 2010 sows must be provided with manipulable material until farrowing'.
Please direct any questions to Ian Barugh or Frances Clement
National Animal Welfare Strategy released
The Hon. Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, has released ‘Animal Welfare Matters’ providing an overall plan in respect of animal welfare in NZ and identifying areas where improvements can be made.
The strategy makes clear that the immediate focus is to improve compliance with current standards. It highlights 4 areas where improvements can be made which are:
- Better planning to prevent animal welfare problems
- Better animal husbandry, science and technology
- Clear expectations and sanctions, with help for people to comply
- Measuring animal welfare performance.
The strategy further reinforces New Zealand’s commitment to animal welfare. It highlights expectations of animal owners/persons in charge of providing for animal welfare. It also highlights the responsibilities of sector groups in providing leadership (including industry education) about meeting welfare standards, implementation of welfare assurance schemes (such as PigCare™), building husbandry skills, and public / consumer education.
The release comes after public consultation last year and will be followed by proposed changes to the law in the form of an Animal Welfare Bill. NZPork will assess the recently tabled Bill for any possible impact on the industry, and will submit to the Select Committee as appropriate.
Please direct any questions to Frances Clement
Inspection powers under the Animal Welfare Act 1999
Inspection powers under the Act are very broad, entitling Inspectors to enter property to inspect animals at any reasonable time. A full copy of the act is available here
Animal welfare inspectors may be appointed from within the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) or SPCAs – which are ‘approved’ organisations under the Animal Welfare Act. Members of the police also have powers under the Act.
Under the Act, an owner/person in charge of an animal is entitled to ask for/seek a veterinary opinion if there is a difference of opinion between that person and the Inspector in regard to treatment of an animal/animals or actions determined to be appropriate as a result of the inspection.
Farmwatch Incursion – What do we have to say?
In March this year, a vegan lobby group, ‘Farmwatch’, broke into a pig farm in Canterbury. The conditions found were not within industry standards and are not condoned by NZPork. However, at the time the activists broke into the farm it had already been identified as below industry required standards and a process had begun to fix the issues. Read on for more information.
Dr Johan Zonderland has prepared a good practice guide to assist New Zealand pig farmers to minimise and manage tail biting . Based on his Dutch PhD thesis “Talking Tails” the guide has been reviewed by NZPork for its applicability to New Zealand pig farming.