Farrowing crates were set to be banned from the end of this year, but the government has just pushed the changes back a whole decade.
What’s all this then?
There was some big pig news announced last week, with associate minister of agriculture Andrew Hoggard (no relation) announcing a raft of changes to the Animal Welfare Act of 1999. Touted as “raising welfare outcomes for pigs in New Zealand”, the changes include increasing the minimum spacing requirements for growing pigs, limiting the use of mating stalls, and reducing the time that sows spend in farrowing crates to a maximum of seven days, while also providing materials for them to engage in nest-building behaviours. “Together, these proposed new requirements will be amongst the highest in the world and demonstrate the importance New Zealanders place upon animal welfare,” said Hoggard in a press release announcing the changes.
Sounds… good? Isn’t that good?
Well, Aotearoa had been about to end the use of farrowing crates entirely, but now the changes aren’t coming into effect until December 2035. The large metal cages are used by farmers to restrict the movement of sows while giving birth and suckling their piglets. While the intention is to prevent piglets from being crushed, the cages make it impossible for sows to turn around, restricting their natural nesting behaviours and causing health problems. The routine use of farrowing crates is already banned in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway, with the European Union committing to banning them in the future.
In a landmark case in 2020, the High Court ruled the use of farrowing crates was “unlawful and invalid” under the Animal Welfare Act. In response, the government at the time agreed to a phase-out period that allowed the continued use of farrowing crates for five years, coming to an end on December 18, 2025. “This is a brilliant outcome for pigs and it has set a precedent for other codes of welfare for animals,” SAFE chief executive Debra Ashton said at the time. “Mother pigs have suffered for way too long already.”
Piglets nursing in a farrowing crate (Photo: Wikimedia)
So pig farmers had already had five years to phase them out, but suddenly they’ve got another whole decade?
Yes. In the press release announcing the changes, Hoggard said this was providing the sector “with a realistic timeframe to make changes to their practices and farms adapting to the new requirements without disrupting domestic pork supply or putting undue pressure on pig farmers”.
In response to a question in parliament yesterday, he added, “The 10-year transition time I have proposed is significant but this is a very big shift in farming systems for most of the pig industry. With the other changes I’m proposing, an independent economic analysis estimated the cost of transition at more than $675,000 for the average indoor pig farm. It’s only reasonable that those farming families have an opportunity to make this change.”
What are animal rights groups saying about the changes?
In a statement this week, SAFE said the government was “dismantling decades of animal welfare progress” by rolling back the law. “This bill is an assault on both compassion and democracy,” said SAFE CEO Debra Ashton. “Every mother pig deserves the simple dignity of turning to see her piglets, to build a nest, and to rest in comfort. This bill denies them even that – cementing cruelty into law with no end in sight.” SAFE polling found 90% of New Zealanders believed the government had a duty to ensure welfare rules complied with the Animal Welfare Act.
The SPCA is also not a fan at all. They have spoken out about being “blindsided” by the u-turn, revealing to Farmers Weekly that they had not been consulted with by the current government on the changes, despite Hoggard’s claim that “key stakeholders” had been involved. “Our laws should reflect current animal welfare science and public opinion, not roll back years of progress,” said the SPCA’s chief scientific officer Arnja Dale. “It is unacceptable to see decisions of this scale being made without transparency and public input.”
Anyone else have thoughts?
Legal eagles aren’t happy either. Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere is the president of the New Zealand Animal Law Association, which challenged the regulations alongside SAFE in the High Court back in 2020. In a statement, he said the organisation was “appalled” by the decision. “This action from the government is a deliberate attempt to avoid the legal consequences of litigation NZALA and SAFE undertook five years ago and its legal obligations under the Animal Welfare Act. It is a dark day for pigs but it is also a dark day for the rule of law.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Elaborating in an opinion piece for Newsroom, Rodriguez Ferrere said that the murky nature of the consultation and rushed legislation changes should not just outrage those in Aotearoa who care about animal welfare, but those who care about democracy. “The only logical conclusion is that the government, working closely with industry, ran the clock down deliberately; forcing itself into a corner where the only option would be to pass validating legislation preventing the phase out and allowing the practice to continue,” he wrote. “It is a manufactured crisis.”
Rodriguez Ferrere concluded: “This legislation is a betrayal of the public, a betrayal of the independent National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and, most of all, a betrayal of the pigs. Its passage does nothing less than make a mockery of our democracy.”
What does the pork industry think?
Brent Kleiss, NZ Pork chief executive, told Farmers Weekly that the bill was welcome after a long period of uncertainty, but it would still mean significant costs and challenges for pig farmers. “It has been five long years of limbo and uncertainty, and over that time, it’s likely we have lost farmers from the industry who couldn’t wait any longer,” he said. “We will continue to work constructively with government and officials on the detail of the proposals to achieve the best outcomes for both pigs and farmers.”
New Zealand Pork animal welfare adviser Kirsty Chidgey previously said during the High Court case that banning farrowing crates would result in the deaths of more piglets, as well as an increase in imported pork – much of which is bred in less humane conditions than in New Zealand – due to fewer pig farms being able to operate here.
And finally, what do the pigs think?
Well, pigs have the equivalent intellect of a three-year-old human. They possess problem-solving abilities, they can tell the difference between a mirror image and the real thing, and have figured out how to use tools and play video games. Not only are they extremely smart, but they are deeply emotional creatures too. They get in their feelings when they listen to music, are experts in conflict resolution, and they love to scamper and play. While “a pig” could not be reached for comment, we’re going to guess they probably don’t like it much either.