The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007

PART 4 E+W Sows and Gilts

22.  Pregnant sows and gilts must, where necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites. E+W

Farrowing E+W

23.  Pregnant sows and gilts must be thoroughly cleaned before being placed in farrowing crates.

24.  In the week before the expected farrowing time, sows and gilts must be given suitable nesting material in sufficient quantity unless it is not technically feasible for the slurry system used.

25.  During farrowing, an unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt must be available for the ease of natural or assisted farrowing.

26.  Farrowing pens where sows or gilts are kept loose must have some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails.

Group housing E+W

27.  Sows and gilts must be kept in groups except during the period between seven days before the predicted day of farrowing and the day on which the weaning of piglets (including any piglets fostered) is complete.

28.  The pen where the group is kept must have sides greater than 2.8 m in length, except when there are six or fewer individuals in the group, when the sides of the pen must be no less than 2.4 m in length.

29.  The unobstructed floor area available to each gilt after service and to each sow when gilts and/or sows are kept in groups must be at least 1.64 m² and 2.25 m² respectively. When these animals are kept in groups of six or fewer individuals, the unobstructed floor area must be increased by 10%. When these animals are kept in groups of 40 or more individuals, the unobstructed floor area may be decreased by 10%.

30.  For gilts after service and pregnant sows, a part of the area required in paragraph 29 equal to at least 0.95 m² per gilt and at least 1.3 m² per sow must be of continuous solid floor of which a maximum of 15% is reserved for drainage openings.

31.  Sows and gilts kept on holdings of 10 or fewer sows may be kept individually provided that their accommodation complies with the requirements of paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Schedule.

32.  In addition to the requirements of paragraph 13 of this Schedule, sows and gilts must be fed using a system which ensures that each individual can obtain sufficient food even when competitors for the food are present.

33.  All dry pregnant sows and gilts must be given a sufficient quantity of bulky or high-fibre food as well as high-energy food to satisfy their hunger and need to chew.