It
features a ban on sow gestation crates for any new barns or renovations to
existing barns.
It also
contains tougher standards for castration, tail docking and ear-notching for
animal identification.
It has
been hailed in news releases from hog marketing boards and Humane Society
International.
The
chapter on housing says “systems and their components must be designed,
constructed and regularly inspected and maintained in a manner that reduces the
potential for injury, provides suitable temperatures, fresh air, and clean
conditions, and allows for inspection of all pigs.
“Emergency
plans must be developed to ensure that alternative means of temperature
regulation, ventilation, feeding, and watering of pigs are available in the
event of a power failure, mechanical breakdown, or other emergency situation.
“Pigs
must not be tethered as part of their normal housing system.
“Due to the
inherent aggressive nature of sows, a combination of group housing with a short
period of stall housing can assist in minimizing injuries, improving body condition,
and can facilitate confirming pregnancy
after breeding.”
It sets
minimum standards for stalls that must be “appropriate to the size of the
individual animal” and “conventional gestation stalls (58-60cm [22.8-23.6in])
may not be wide enough for larger sows to lie laterally, especially towards the
end of the gestation period.”
As of this July 1, all new or rebuilt hog barns must house “mafgex gilts and sows” in groups.
“Individual
stalls may be used for up to 28 days after the date of last breeding and an
additional period of up to seven days is
permitted
to manage grouping.
“Time
in stalls can only be extended to protect the welfare of
individual
sows on the advice of a competent stockperson.”
Farrowing
crate standards say they must be long enough to “allow the sow enough room to
move forward and backward, and to lie down unhindered by a raised trough or
rear gate.
“When
standing in a normal position in a farrowing crate, the sow must not touch both
sides of the crate (not including anti-crush rails) simultaneously, and her
back must not touch any bars
along the top.
“Sows
must not be kept in farrowing crates for more than six weeks in any one
reproductive cycle except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. when a sow is
required to foster a second litter).”
The
code includes a number of new standards to reduce pain.
“Surgical
procedures (e.g. hernia repair, cryptorchidectomy) other than elective
husbandry procedures must be performed in consultation with a veterinarian and
using appropriate anesthesia and analgesia.
“Major
surgical procedures (e.g. caesarian section) must only be performed by a
licensed veterinarian.
“Castration
performed after 10 days of age must be done with anesthetic and analgesic to help
control pain.
“As of
July 1, 2016, castration performed at any age must be done with analgesics to
help control post-procedure pain.”
Tail
docking is to be done before pigs are seven days old. If there is tail biting
in a pen, the aggressor is to be removed.
Every
hog operation must develop a written policy on euthanasia and staff who perform
it must be trained.
Every
hog operation must provide sick pens and have an ongoing relationship with a
veterinarian and a protocol for herd health.
Ear
notching for animal identification is discouraged, but if deemed necessary, must be done before they are 14 days old.
The 43-page
code has an extensive bibliography referring to the scientific reports used in
its development and a listing of the standards.
