Friday, March 29, 2024

Pork sector releases plans of its own

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Alternative to ‘unworkable’ government plans has support of industry, says NZPork
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New Zealand’s pork sector has come up with an alternative to what it sees as unworkable plans proposed by the government.

They include reducing the maximum time farrowing crates can be used from the current 33 days to no more than seven, increasing the minimum space allowance for grower pigs and eliminating the use of mating stalls for housing sows.

The changes would place New Zealand’s standards beyond those required in the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Canada, Australia and China – which collectively produce most of the world’s pork and supply most of the pork exported to NZ.

NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss said the industry supports the need for change but the proposals released by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) in its Draft Code of Welfare for pigs would have unintended negative animal welfare outcomes and drive many pig farmers out of business.

“While NAWAC is an expert committee, it has no expertise or understanding of pig farming,” Kleiss said.

“NZPork has worked with our technical advisers to develop alternative proposals, which are based on a rigorous in-depth review of contemporary pig welfare science and good practice. They are substantial, meaningful and collectively demonstrate welfare standards that go beyond all major pork-producing countries.”

The NZPork proposals include ensuring all sows are provided with nesting material before farrowing. 

To balance sow behavioural needs with piglet protection, the sows would remain in farrowing crates for up to seven days total (rather than up to 33 days as current standards allow) but no more than four days after giving birth.

The minimum space allowance for growing pigs would be increased by 13%.

NZPork wants to retain an outcome-based approach to deciding when piglets should be weaned. This would better cater for the welfare needs of both sows and piglets, rather than adopting a prescribed and inflexible minimum weaning age as is proposed by NAWAC.

Kleiss said NZPork’s alternatives to NAWAC’s  proposals would still be costly to implement, but they have the support of most commercial pig farmers.

“NAWAC has not considered the substantial cost to industry of its own proposals, which hasn’t been helped by their inability to agree on what represents minimum standard in some cases,” Kleiss said.

“NZPork believes the costs of NAWAC’s proposals are likely to be in the order of $10,000-$20,000 per sow on a standard farrow to finish operation, the equivalent of more than 20 years’ profit.

“Our own industry proposals will still need government support along with adequate time to implement change.”

NZPork is also urging the government to require imported pork to be held to the same higher welfare standards.

NZPork has outlined the proposed alternative approach in its submission on the Proposed Code of Welfare for Pigs and Associated Regulations. Consultation on the draft code has now closed.

The NZPork submission can be found at www.supportnzpigfarmers.co.nz

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