Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Regulation 4

SCHEDULE 8N.I.Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of pigs

PART 1 N.I.INTERPRETATION

InterpretationN.I.

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 age 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 2 N.I.GENERAL ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

InspectionN.I.

2.  A person responsible for the pigs shall ensure that all pigs are inspected at least once a day to check that they are in a state of well-being.

TetheringN.I.

3.  A person shall not 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.

4.—(1) Where tethers are used in accordance with paragraph 3, they shall not cause injury to the pigs and shall be inspected regularly and adjusted as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit.N.I.

(2) Each tether shall be of sufficient length to allow the pigs to move as stipulated in paragraph 5(2)(a) and (e) and the design shall be such as to avoid, as far as possible, any risk of strangulation, pain or injury.

AccommodationN.I.

5.—(1) A pig shall be free to turn round without difficulty at all times.

(2) The accommodation used for pigs shall 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, comfortable and adequately drained place in which it can rest;

(c)see other pigs, except—

(i)where the pig is isolated for veterinary reasons; or

(ii)in the week before the expected farrowing time and during farrowing, when sows and gilts may be kept out of sight of other pigs;

(d)maintain a comfortable temperature; and

(e)have enough space to allow it and all the other animals in the accommodation to lie down at the same time.

6.—(1) The dimensions of any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs shall 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 75% 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.N.I.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to a female pig for the period starting seven days before the predicted day of her farrowing and ending on the day on which the weaning of her piglets (including any piglets fostered by her) is complete.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a pig held in a stall or pen—

(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 the purpose in question.

(4) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a pig held in a stall or pen which the pig 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 this paragraph.

Artificially lit buildingsN.I.

7.  Subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, where pigs are kept in an artificially lit building then lighting with an intensity of at least 40 lux shall be provided for a minimum period of 8 hours per day.

Prevention of fightingN.I.

8.—(1) If pigs are kept together, measures shall be taken to prevent fighting which goes beyond normal behaviour.

(2) Pigs which show persistent aggression towards others or are victims of such aggression shall be kept separate from the group.

Cleansing and disinfectionN.I.

9.—(1) Housing, pens, equipment and utensils used for pigs shall be properly cleaned and disinfected to prevent cross-infection and the build-up of disease-carrying organisms.

(2) Faeces, urine and uneaten or spilt food shall be removed as often as necessary to minimise smell and avoid attracting flies or rodents.

BeddingN.I.

10.  Where bedding is provided, this shall be clean, dry and not harmful to the pigs.

FloorsN.I.

11.  Where pigs are kept in a building, floors shall—

(a)be smooth but not slippery;

(b)be designed, constructed and maintained so 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)where no litter is provided, form a rigid, even and stable surface.

12.  Where concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups—N.I.

(a)the maximum width of the openings shall be—

(i)11 mm for piglets;

(ii)14 mm for weaners;

(iii)18 mm for rearing pigs; and

(iv)20 mm for gilts after service and sows

(b)the minimum slat width shall be—

(i)50 mm for piglets and weaners; and

(ii)80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service and sows.

FeedingN.I.

13.—(1) All pigs shall 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 feeding the animals individually, each pig shall have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding group.

Drinking waterN.I.

14.  All pigs over two weeks of age shall have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh drinking water.

Environmental enrichmentN.I.

15.  To enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, all pigs shall have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such which does not adversely affect the health of the animals.

Prohibition on the use of the sweatbox systemN.I.

16.  Pigs shall not be kept in an environment which involves maintaining high temperatures and high humidity (known as the “sweatbox system”).

Noise levelsN.I.

17.  Pigs shall not be exposed to constant or sudden noise.

18.  Noise levels above 85dBA shall be avoided in that part of any building where pigs are kept.N.I.

PART 3 N.I.BOARS

19.  Boar pens shall be sited and constructed so as to allow the boar to turn round and to hear, see and smell other pigs, and shall contain clean resting areas.N.I.

20.  The lying area for boars shall be dry and comfortable.N.I.

21.  Subject to paragraph 22, the minimum unobstructed floor area for an adult boar shall be 6 m².N.I.

22.  When boar pens are also used for natural service, the floor area shall be at least 10 m² and shall be free of any obstacles.N.I.

PART 4 N.I.SOWS AND GILTS

23.  Pregnant gilts and sows shall, where necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites.N.I.

FarrowingN.I.

24.  Before they are placed in farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts shall be thoroughly cleaned.

25.  In the week before the expected farrowing time sows and gilts shall be given suitable nesting material in sufficient quantity unless it is not technically feasible because of the slurry system used.N.I.

26.  During farrowing, an unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt shall be available for the ease of natural or assisted farrowing.N.I.

27.  Farrowing pens where sows or gilts are kept loose shall have some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails.N.I.

Group housingN.I.

28.  Sows and gilts shall 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.

29.  The pen where the group is kept shall have sides greater than 2.8 metres in length, except when there are less than 6 individuals in the group, when the sides of the pen shall be no less than 2.4 metres in length.N.I.

30.  The total unobstructed floor area available to each gilt after service and to each sow when gilts or sows or gilts and sows are kept in groups shall be at least 1.64 m² and 2.25 m² respectively. When these animals are kept in groups of less than 6 individuals the unobstructed floor area shall 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%.N.I.

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

32.  Sows and gilts kept on holdings of fewer than 10 sows may be kept individually provided that their accommodation complies with the requirements of paragraphs [F15 and 6] .N.I.

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

34.  All dry pregnant sows and gilts shall 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.N.I.

PART 5 N.I.PIGLETS

35.  Piglets shall, where necessary, 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.N.I.

36.  A part of the total floor where the piglets are kept and which is large enough to allow the animals to rest together at the same time shall be solid or covered with a mat or be littered with straw or any other suitable material.N.I.

37.  Where a farrowing crate is used the piglets shall have sufficient space to be able to suckle without difficulty.N.I.

38.  Subject to paragraph 39 piglets shall not be weaned from the sow at an age of less than 28 days unless the welfare or health of the sow or piglets would otherwise be adversely affected.N.I.

39.  Piglets may be weaned up to 7 days earlier than the age referred to in paragraph 38 if they are moved into specialised housings which is—N.I.

(a)emptied and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the introduction of a new group; and

(b)separate from housing where other sows are kept.

PART 6 N.I.WEANERS AND REARING PIGS

40.  As soon as possible after weaning, weaners and rearing pigs shall be kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible.N.I.

41.  If weaners and rearing pigs unfamiliar with one another have to be mixed—N.I.

(a)this shall, if possible, be done before weaning or up to 1 week after weaning or otherwise when the pigs are as young as possible; and

(b)they shall be provided with adequate opportunities to escape and hide from other pigs.

42.  The use of tranquillising medication in order to facilitate mixing shall be limited to exceptional conditions and only after consultation with a veterinary surgeon.N.I.

43.  If signs of severe fighting appear, the causes shall be immediately investigated and appropriate measures shall be taken.N.I.

44.  The unobstructed floor area available to each weaner or rearing pig reared in a group shall be at least—N.I.

(a)0.15 m² for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is 10 kg or less;

(b)0.20 m² 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 m² 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 m² 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 m² 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 m² 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 m² for each pig where the average weight of the pigs in the group is more than 110 kg.