Pigs have certainly been in the limelight recently. Firstly, they featured on the controversial Horizon programme, 'Supermarket Secrets' (26 February), next Compassion in World Farming hit industry press with news of their formal complaint to the European Commission regarding tail docking and most recently British pig farmers campaigned in London for more money from supermarkets.

Not so bright Horizon

Compassion in World Farming was shocked by welfare claims broadcast on Horizon's latest investigation, 'Supermarket Secrets'. The programme featured a farmer who compared farrowing crates to hospital care and said that they offer piglets more protection than outdoor suckling systems, which is not the case. Research shows that the mortality rate of piglets in outdoor herds which do not use farrowing crates is 9.46%, while mortality rates are actually higher in indoor systems which do use farrowing crates, averaging at 11.60%.

Compassion in World Farming Chief Policy Advisor, Peter Stevenson said, "The assertion by the farmer in the Horizon programme that farrowing crates are analogous to a hospital is quite frankly laughable. If anything, they are rather like a prison. A recent report by the European Food Safety Authority is immensely critical of farrowing crates. It points out that these crates prevent sows from engaging in their natural nest building behaviours and can lead to stress, frustration, injuries, wounds and disease."

Defra fail to enforce law in place to protect pig welfare

On 29 February, Compassion in World Farming decided it was time to take serious action on the appalling amount of tail-docking taking place in Britain and submitted a Formal Complaint to the European Commission regarding Defra's failure to enforce the law against the unnecessary practice.

Tail docking is carried out to prevent tail biting and involves cutting off part of the tail, invariably without anaesthetic. Scientific research has established that tail docking is extremely painful.

EU legislation banned the routine tail docking of pigs in 2003, though many pig farmers still ignore the law. A report by the European Food Safety Authority and Compassion in World Farming's recent supermarket survey show that 75-80% of British pigs are still tail docked five years after the ban came into force.

Most pigs today are farmed industrially. They are packed into overcrowded barren pens and are usually kept on slatted or perforated floors without any straw. Scientific research shows that the right way to prevent tail biting is to keep the pigs in good conditions, not to dock their tails. This argument was accepted by the EU when it banned routine tail docking in 2003.

Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Adviser said, "I am shocked that many British pig farmers are flouting the law that bans routine tail docking. Despite repeated requests to Defra, they have failed to take effective action to enforce this law – this is why we have today made a Formal Complaint to the European Commission."

Pig farmers call for more money from supermarkets

Hundreds of pig farmers attended a rally in London on 4 March to campaign for fair prices from supermarkets. Compassion in World Farming joined the farmers in support of their campaign, but also to urge them to see free-range and higher welfare as the way to save their British bacon.

British pigs are already experiencing better welfare than much of imported products, thanks to the UK ban on sow stalls, but there is still room for improvement, particularly the provision of straw, a reduction in tail-docking and stopping the use of farrowing crates.

Phil Brooke, Animal Welfare Development Manager said, "Let's pay a fair price for a fair product and make sure that our pig industry is one we can be proud of with better welfare systems and a fair deal for farmers."

Some commentators have wrongly blamed the UK's higher welfare standards for driving up the cost of pig production; however, the rising costs are primarily down to the rising price of wheat and unfavourable exchange rates. The effect of the ban on sow stalls was marginal in terms of costs and gave British pig farmers a clear selling point over competitors still using this cruel system.

When buying pork, consumers should not only look for British, but for free-range and organic. 'Outdoor-reared', 'outdoor-bred' and RSPCA Freedom Food pigs are also kept to higher welfare standards.

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