Small scale pig farming

There are nearly 3,000 properties in New Zealand with fewer than 50 pigs (Statistics New Zealand, 2007). Understanding the principles of caring for pigs on a small scale is very important. This section provides a guide to small scale pig farming and provides links to other useful websites.

You should be aware of some of the legislation relevant to pig farming in New Zealand

• Resource Management Act - your local councils (city, regional and district) have rules about where pigs can be raised and resource management requirements. Contact your council for details.
• Animal Welfare Act - Owners or the person in charge of an animal are required to ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of animals are met and that pain and distress of ill or injured animals is alleviated. The standards of care for pigs are described in the Code of Welfare for Pigs, it can be downloaded from NZPork or Biosecurity NZ
• Feeding waste food -the Biosecurity Act requires that any feed containing pork or pork products (e.g. ham, bacon) or that has come in contact with these products (sandwiches, pies) must be heated at 100C for 1 hour before it can be fed to pigs. Read here for details.
• Protecting New Zealand - To help protect our disease free status the Biosecurity Act requires that any suspected exotic diseases or pests are notified to your vet or to Biosecurity NZ. A guide to exotic disease awareness in pigs is available here
• The Animal Products Act 1999 part 6 regulates who can kill and process an animal. Key points are:
  • you must have owned or cared for the animal for 28 days prior to slaughter
  • you or a registered homekill provider can kill and process animals for your personal use
  • animals for commercial sale must be slaughtered at a registered facility. A homekill butcher is NOT permitted to kill animals for sale.
  A list of registered slaughter facilities and registered homekill butchers is maintained by the NZ Food Safety Authority 
• Moving animals for sale or slaughter - all animals that are transported must have an Animal Status Declaration completed and signed. Single use ASD for Pigs forms can be downloaded here.
  If you decide to become a registered pork producer ASD-P books are available free.
• The Agricultural and Veterinary Medicines Act regulates what treatments you can give your pigs, you will need to consult with NZFSA or your vet.