Ban sow stalls says NFU

Monday, January 16, 2012

by SUSAN MANN

The National Farmers Union wants governments to pass legislation banning hog farmers’ use of sow stalls. But Ontario Pork would rather see farmers who are building new facilities look at loose sow housing as the preferred choice rather than a ban for existing producers.

Spokesman Keith Robbins says at the organization’s two most recent pork policy conferences delegates agreed to continued monitoring of developments in loose sow housing, developing options for farmers to consider, looking at the science around loose sow housing adoption and continuing to develop best practices.

Robbins says the industry’s recommended code of practice for pig care and handling is still being developed. Consultations are being held this year with the document being finalized by early 2013. “We really want to see what would be the outcome from that” document, he says.

The NFU passed its resolution, proposed by Manitoba delegates, at its national convention in London, Ontario in November. It says: “Therefore be it resolved the NFU petition all relevant levels of government to pass legislation banning the use of sow stalls.”

Joan Brady, NFU women’s president, says the resolution addresses industry trends, consumer demands as well as the natural behavior of sows and is “a response to where these things came from – industrial farming.” Brady is a retired pork producer and now has a market garden business just outside of Grand Bend.

The idea of discontinuing the use of sow stalls is supported by consumers but they need to realize the impact that change will have on farms’ bottom line such as increased costs because of increased management and more space requirements for sows, she adds.

“It takes a lot less time and energy to manage a sow when she stands in place than when she’s in a more natural environment or when she moves and interacts with other animals,” Brady explains.

Europe has banned the use of sow confinement stalls by 2013. Manitoba Pork has suggested that producers phase out the stalls by 2025.

Colleen Ross, NFU first vice-president (policy), says, “we believe in the humane raising of animals and many of our members do not believe that sow stalls are a humane way of raising hogs.”

Sow stalls are used by huge mega-barns and industrial-sized farms, says Ross, of Iroquois, Ontario. But the NFU would like to see more small-scale producers start farming and they don’t want those farmers to use sow stalls.

The union has members using sow stalls, she notes. But “we would certainly discourage the practice.” They want farmers to start thinking more outside the box and start considering alternative methods of handling their livestock.

Brady says the first thing the union plans to do is talk to members with an interest in the pork industry about how to convey its message.

Ross says NFU also plans to approach different pork producer organizations, such as Ontario Pork, to discuss its resolution. Ross says at Ontario Pork’s annual convention there could be a speaker or panel to talk about other livestock handling methods, even for farmers with large-scale operations.

Another thing the industry could do is look at sow stalls and review why they were introduced, she says. “Has it really been good for the farmer and has it been a benefit to the livestock?” They’ve become an accepted practice but sometimes these technologies aren’t working for the farmer and they aren’t necessarily working for the animals, she says. BF