" SCHEDULE 6
Regulations 2(3) and 8
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO THE KEEPING
OF PIGS
PART I
INTERPRETATION
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 II
GENERAL ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
Inspection
2. All pigs shall 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 shall be temporarily isolated in suitable accommodation with
dry comfortable bedding.
Tethering
4. No person shall 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.
5. - (1) Where the use
of tethers is permitted in accordance with paragraph 4, they shall not
cause injury to the pigs and shall be inspected regularly and adjusted
as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit.
(2) Each tether shall be
of sufficient length to allow the pigs to move as stipulated in paragraph
6(2) below and the design shall be such as to avoid, as far as possible,
any risk of strangulation, pain or injury.
Accommodation
6. - (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, unless the pig is isolated
for veterinary reasons;
(d) maintain a comfortable temperature; and
(e) have enough space to allow all the animals
to lie down at the same time.
7. - (1) The dimension of
any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs in accordance with these
regulations 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.
(2) Paragraph 7(1) shall
not apply 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 shall not be
guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening
or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a
pig 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 that purpose.
(4) A person shall not be
guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening
or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a
pig 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 buildings
8. 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 subject
to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations.
Prevention of fighting
9. - (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 isolated
or kept separate from the group.
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.
Bedding
11. 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 shall -
(a) be smooth but not slippery so as to prevent
injury to the pigs;
(b) be so designed, constructed and maintained
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.
13. When concrete slatted floors
are used for pigs kept in groups the maximum width of the openings must
be -
(a) 11 mm for piglets;
(b) 14 mm for weaners;
(c) 18 mm for rearing pigs; and
(d) 20 mm for gilts after service and sows.
The minimum slat width must be -
(e) 50 mm for piglets and weaners; and
(f) 80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service
and sows.
Feeding
14. - (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 feeding the animals individually, each pig
must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding
group.
Drinking water
15. All pigs over two weeks
of age must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh drinking
water.
Environmental enrichment
16. To enable proper investigation
and manipulation activities, all pigs must 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 sweat-box system
17. Pigs shall not be kept
in an environment which involves maintaining high temperatures and high
humidity (known as the "sweat-box system").
Noise levels
18. Pigs shall not be exposed
to constant or sudden noise. Noise levels above 85 dBA shall be avoided
in that part of any building where pigs are kept.
Interventions
19. Save as set out in paragraphs
21 to 26 of this Schedule, no intervention procedures which result in damage
to or loss of a sensitive part of the body or the alteration of bone structure
shall be carried out except for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
20. The procedures set out
in paragraphs 21 to 26 of this Schedule may only be carried out under hygienic
conditions by a veterinary surgeon, or where it is legally permitted, by
a person who has been trained in accordance with these Regulations and
who is experienced in performing the procedures.
21. The following procedures
shall not be carried out routinely but only where there is evidence that
injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred:
but no tooth reduction or tail docking may be
carried out unless other measures to improve environmental conditions or
management systems have been taken in order to prevent tail biting and
other vices.
22. Male pigs may be castrated
provided the means employed do not involve tearing of tissues.
23. - (1) If docking
of tails is carried out after the seventh day of life it shall only be
performed under anaesthetic and additional prolonged analgesia by a veterinary
surgeon.
(2) If castration is carried
out after the seventh day of life it shall only be performed by a veterinary
surgeon in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Animals
(Anaesthetics) Act 1954[6].
24. Boars' tusks may be reduced
in length where necessary to prevent injuries to other animals or for safety
reasons.
25. Nose rings may not be
put in animals kept continuously in indoor husbandry systems.
26. Ear tagging or ear notching
may be carried out for identification purposes.
PART III
BOARS
27. 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.
28. The lying area shall be
dry and comfortable.
29. - (1) The minimum
unobstructed floor area for an adult boar shall be 6 m2 save
as set out in paragraph 29 (2) herein.
(2) When boar pens are also
used for natural service the floor area must be at least 10 m2
and must be free of any obstacles.
PART IV
SOWS AND GILTS
30. Pregnant gilts and sows
shall, where necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites.
Farrowing
31. If they are placed in
farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts shall be thoroughly cleaned.
32. 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.
33. During farrowing, an unobstructed
area behind the sow or gilt shall be available for the ease of natural
or assisted farrowing.
34. Farrowing pens where sows
are kept loose must have some means of protecting the piglets, such as
farrowing rails.
35. In the week before the
expected farrowing time and during farrowing, sows and gilts may be kept
out of sight of other pigs.
Group housing
36. 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.
37. The pen where the group
is kept must have sides greater than 2.8 m in length, except when there
are less than 6 individuals in the group, when the sides of the pen must
be no less than 2.4 m in length.
38. The total 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 less than 6 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%.
39. For gilts after service
and pregnant sows a part of the area required in paragraph 38 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.
40. 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 6 and 7 of Part
II of this Schedule.
41. In addition to the requirements
of paragraph 14 of Part II 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.
42. 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.
PART V
PIGLETS
43. If necessary, piglets
shall 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.
44. A part of the total floor
where the piglets are and which is large enough to allow the animals to
rest together at the same time, must be solid or covered with a mat or
be littered with straw or any other suitable material.
45. Where a farrowing crate
is used the piglets must have sufficient space to be able to be suckled
without difficulty.
46. Piglets shall not be weaned
from the sow at an age of less than 28 days unless the welfare or health
of the dam or piglets would otherwise be adversely affected.
47. Piglets may be weaned
up to seven days earlier if they are moved into specialised housings which
are emptied and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the introduction
of a new group and which are separate from housing where other sows are
kept.
PART VI
WEANERS AND REARING PIGS
48. Pigs shall be placed in
groups as soon as possible after weaning. They shall be kept in stable
groups with as little mixing as possible.
49. If pigs unfamiliar with
one another have to be mixed, this should be done at as young an age as
possible, preferably before or up to one week after weaning. When pigs
are mixed they shall be provided with adequate opportunities to escape
and hide from other pigs.
50. The use of tranquillising
medication in order to facilitate mixing shall be limited to exceptional
conditions and only after consultation with a veterinary surgeon.
51. When signs of severe fighting
appear, the causes shall be immediately investigated and appropriate measures
shall be taken.
52. The unobstructed floor
area available to each weaner or rearing pig reared in a group shall be
at least -
(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."