Regulations 2(3) and 8
SCHEDULE 6ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO THE KEEPING OF PIGS
PART IINTERPRETATION
1. In this Schedule–
“boar” means a male pig after puberty, intended for breeding;
“gilt” means a female pig intended for breeding after puberty and before farrowing;
“piglet” means a pig from birth to weaning;
“rearing pig” means a pig from ten weeks to slaughter or service;
“sow” means a female pig after the first farrowing; and
“weaner” means a pig from weaning to the age of ten weeks.
PART IIGENERAL ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
2. All pigs must be inspected by the owner or keeper of the pigs at least once a day to check that they are in a state of well-being.
3. Where necessary, sick or injured pigs must be isolated in suitable accommodation with dry comfortable bedding.
Accommodation
4.—(1) A pig must be free to turn round without difficulty at all times.
(2) The accommodation used for pigs must be constructed in such a way as to allow each pig to–
(a)stand up, lie down and rest without difficulty;
(b)have a clean place in which it can rest; and
(c)see other pigs, unless the pig is isolated for veterinary reasons.
5.—(1) The dimension of any stall or pen must be such that the internal area is not less than the square of the length of the pig, and no internal side is less than seventy five per cent of the length of the pig, the length of the pig in each case being measured from the tip of its snout to the base of its tail while it is standing with its back straight.
(2) Sub-paragraph 5(1) does not apply in relation to a female pig for the period between seven days before the predicted day of her farrowing and the day on which the weaning of her piglets (including any piglets fostered by her) is complete.
(3) A person is not guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph 5(1) by reason of the keeping of a pig in a stall or pen in which it could not be kept without contravention of sub paragraph 5(1)–
(a)while it is undergoing any examination, test, treatment or operation carried out for veterinary purposes;
(b)for the purposes of service, artificial insemination or collection of semen;
(c)while it is fed on any particular occasion;
(d)for the purposes of marking, washing or weighing it;
(e)while its accommodation is being cleaned; or
(f)while it is awaiting loading for transportation,
provided that the period during which it is so kept is not longer than necessary for that purpose.
(4) A pig is not to be regarded as being kept in a stall or pen in which it could not be kept without contravention of sub-paragraph 5(1) if it is in a stall or pen which it can enter or leave at will, provided that the stall or pen is entered from a stall or pen in which the pig is kept without contravention of sub-paragraph 5(1).
Artificially lit buildings
6. Where pigs are kept in an artificially lit building then, subject to paragraphs 14 and 16 of Schedule 1, artificial lighting must be provided for a period at least equivalent to the period of natural light normally available between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.
Prevention of fighting
7.—(1) If pigs are kept together, measures must be taken to prevent fighting which goes beyond normal behaviour.
(2) Pigs which show persistent aggression towards others or are victims of such aggression must be isolated or kept separate from the group.
Use of tethers
8. No person may tether or cause to be tethered any pig except while it is undergoing any examination, test, treatment or operation carried out for any veterinary purpose.
9.—(1) Where the use of tethers is permitted in accordance with paragraph 8, they must not cause injury to the pigs and must be inspected regularly and adjusted as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit.
(2) Each tether must be of sufficient length to allow the pigs to move as stipulated in paragraph 4 and the design must besuch as to avoid, as far as possible, any risk of strangulation, pain or injury.
Cleaning and disinfection
10.—(1) Housing, pens, equipment and utensils used for pigs must be properly cleaned and disinfected as necessary to prevent cross-infection and the build-up of disease-carrying organisms.
(2) Faeces, urine and uneaten or spilt food must be removed as often as necessary to minimise smell and avoid attracting flies or rodents.
Lying area
11.—(1) Where pigs are kept in a building they must be kept on, or have access at all times to, a lying area which is clean, comfortable and does not adversely affect them, and is well-drained or well maintained with dry bedding.
(2) Where bedding is provided, this must be clean, dry and not harmful to the pigs.
Floors
12. Where pigs are kept in a building, floors must–
(a)be smooth but not slippery so as to prevent injury to the pigs;
(b)be so designed as not to cause injury or suffering to pigs standing or lying on them;
(c)be suitable for the size and weight of the pigs; and
(d)form a rigid, even and stable surface.
Feeding
13.—(1) All pigs must be fed at least once a day.
(2) Where pigs are housed in a group and do not have continuous access to feed, or are not fed by an automatic feeding system, each pig must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding group.
Drinking water
14. All pigs must be provided with an adequate supply of fresh drinking water each day.
Environmental enrichment
15. In addition to the measures normally taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices and in order to enable them to satisfy their behavioural needs, all pigs, taking into account environment and stocking density, must have access to straw or other material or object suitable to satisfy those needs.
Prohibition on the use of the sweat-box system
16. Pigs must not be kept in an environment which involves maintaining high temperatures and high humidity (known as the “sweat-box system”).
PART IIIBOARS
17. Boar pens must be sited and constructed so as to allow the boar to turn round and to hear, see and smell other pigs, and must contain clean resting areas.
18. The lying area must be dry and comfortable.
19. The minimum pen size for an adult boar is six square metres, except that a larger area must be provided when pens are used for service.
PART IVSOWS AND GILTS
20. Sows and gilts between weaning their piglets and the perinatal period must, where necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites.
21. If they are placed in farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts must be thoroughly cleaned.
22. Sows and gilts between weaning their piglets and the perinatal period must be provided with a clean, adequately drained, comfortable lying area and must, if necessary, be given suitable nesting material.
23. During farrowing, an unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt must be available for the ease of natural or assisted farrowing.
24. Farrowing pens where sows are kept loose must have some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails.
PART VPIGLETS
25. If necessary, piglets must be provided with a source of heat and a solid, dry and comfortable lying area away from the sow where all of them can rest at the same time.
26. Where a farrowing crate is used, the piglets must have sufficient space to be able to be suckled without difficulty.
27. Tail docking and tooth clipping must be carried out only when there is evidence, on the farm, that injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred as a result of not carrying out these procedures.
28. Where tooth clipping appears necessary, this must only be carried out within seven days of birth.
29. Piglets must not be weaned from the sow at an age of less than three weeks unless the welfare or health of the dam or piglets would otherwise be adversely affected.
PART VIWEANERS AND REARING PIGS
30. Pigs must be placed in groups as soon as possible after weaning. They must be kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible.
31. The unobstructed floor area available to each weaner or rearing pig reared in a group must be at least–
(a)0.15 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is 10 kg or less;
(b)0.20 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 10 kg but less than or equal to 20 kg;
(c)0.30 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 20 kg but less than or equal to 30 kg;
(d)0.40 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 30 kg but less than or equal to 50 kg;
(e)0.55 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 50 kg but less than or equal to 85 kg;
(f)0.65 square metres for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 85 kg but less than or equal to 110 kg; and
(g)1.00 square metre for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 110 kg.