Farming

There are three main stages in pig production.
 

1. Breeding - dry (pregnant) sow accommodation

Sows and gilts (young sows) are kept in a variety of housing systems.
 

Individual stalls (outside the UK)
These individual, narrow stalls prevent the sow from turning around, and allow only limited movement forwards and backwards. Sow stalls were banned completely in the UK from the end of 1998 and in the rest of Europe in January 2013, although their use is  permitted for up to four weeks after mating.

Group housing
Group housing has the potential to provide a much better environment, giving more freedom to move and allowing social contact. However, it can lead to problems with aggression, particularly during feeding. Some farmers use electronic sow feeders to help prevent aggression. Each sow wears a collar with an electronic ID, allowing them individual access to a feed dispenser to receive the right amount of food.

Outdoor systems
Approximately 40 per cent of sows in the UK are kept outside. They are kept in groups with access to large bedded huts that provide shelter and a dry lying area. They have more space, and can explore their environment, forage and express their natural behaviours. The suitability of the land and weather conditions can have a large effect on welfare in outdoor systems.

 

2. Breeding - giving birth (farrowing)

Around one or two days before farrowing, the sow will attempt to build a nest, whether or not bedding material is available.
 

The majority of sows in the UK (approximately 60 per cent) farrow indoors in farrowing crates, into which they are placed up to a week before they are expected to give birth. Farrowing crates are restrictive pens which prevent the sow from turning around, and which aim to reduce the risk of the sow crushing her newborn piglets. Farrowing crates have a ‘creep area’ with a heat lamp and food source to attract the piglets away from the sow when not suckling, to reduce crushing.
 

Approximately 40 per cent of sows give birth outdoors in individual straw-bedded shelters called arcs. The sows are moved into these individual arcs prior to farrowing, where straw is provided which the sows use to build a nest. Whilst the sow can come and go freely, movement of the piglets out of the arc is restricted for the first one to two weeks by a barrier placed around the entrance, in order to keep them in the warm hut.

Regardless of whether the sows are kept indoors or outdoors, following weaning, often at around 21 to 28 days of age, the weaned pigs are moved into separate accommodation for growing/finishing. The sow will be ‘served’ within five days of weaning, either via mating with a boar, or through artificial insemination. On average, a sow will produce 2.25 litters per year.

 

3. Growing / finishing

Almost all pigs (96 per cent), including those born outdoors, are put into indoor accommodation for the growing/finishing period, although some systems also provide an outdoor run. Only 4 per cent of growing pigs will spend their entire lives outdoors in free-range conditions.
 

Approximately 65 per cent of growing pigs are kept in indoor systems with at least some access to straw. Approximately 31 per cent of growing pigs are kept in slatted accommodation which, due to the system of manure removal, does not allow the use of straw or similar manipulable material.

Most finishing pigs are slaughtered between 15 and 30 weeks of age, depending on the purpose for which they are being produced.