Australia’s biggest pork producer has introduced a “maternity ring” for pigs giving birth to replace controversial farrowing crates.
Farrowing crates have been in widespread use in the pork industry since the 1960s to restrict a nursing sow from accidentally killing their young.
Piglet mortality in farrowing crates could still be as high as 20 per cent, despite the restrictive confinement.
Sun Pork animal scientist David Lines said the maternity rings allowed the sow to lie down but not flat against the floor or pen wall where piglets could be crushed.
“The [maternity] ring really protects piglets from crushing by the sow because it restricts where she can lie,” Dr Lines said.
David Lines says the rings still prevent the sow lying flat against the floor or pen wall. (ABC News: Tim Lee)
It also allows sows to be private or to stand up to socialise and to display instinctive nesting behaviours before they give birth.
A major breakthrough
The RSPCA was involved in the development of the device.
Senior scientific officer Melina Tensen said the maternity ring met all animal welfare criteria while being commercially viable for producers.
“It’s really the breakthrough that the pig industry has needed,” she said.
“The maternity ring is a game-changer for indoor pig production.”
Melina Tensen says the device is a major breakthrough for the industry. (ABC News: Tim Lee)
“A transition to confinement-free [practices] is closer than ever before, so no more stalls, no more crates — that’s the future of indoor pig farming.”
Peak industry body Australian Pork Limited welcomed the innovation.
“Having RSPCA at the table and involved in our research demonstrates that we do take animal care very seriously and we take community feedback very seriously,” chief executive officer Margo Andrae said.
“My hope is that the general community and Australians every day actually recognise that we go above and beyond for our animals and our people.”
The “maternity ring” will also help replace gestational stalls. (ABC Rural: Warwick Long)
Tried and tested
The seemingly simple design was the result of 10 years of research and development and exhaustive scientific study by Australia’s pork industry.
Dr Lines said the technology had been installed at nine of its farrowing houses.
“When those are done that’ll take us to well over a thousand maternity rings within Sun Pork,” Dr Lines said.
As well as its own rollout, the company is happy to share the design with the wider industry and offer training to piggery workers.
The innovation allows pigs more freedom to move and socialise. (ABC News: Tim Lee)
Sun Pork’s managing director Rob van Barneveld is a pork industry expert and registered animal nutritionist.
“We’ve demonstrated a benefit for the sow from a welfare perspective and I don’t think you can use welfare as a marketing tool, so if there’s a genuine welfare benefit we have an obligation to make sure every animal has access to it,” Dr van Barneveld said.
Scientific research and close monitoring confirmed sows were calmer and more productive when able to express natural behaviours.
Sun Pork has recorded healthier piglets with a faster growth rate and more bonding between sows and piglets.
Kate Plush says the maternity rings also help sows give birth more quickly. (ABC News: Tim Lee)
The company published its scientific findings in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science in August.
Sun Pork animal welfare scientist Kate Plush said the maternity ring provided other physiological advantages to the piglets.
“So the sow farrows them down quicker, she gives birth more quickly,” Dr Plush said.
Retailers have welcomed the innovation.
A strategic partnership with Woolworths supermarkets will see Sun Pork’s first crate-free pork on the supermarket shelves this month.
Rob van Barneveld says the invention is good news for animal welfare and consumers. (ABC News: Tim Lee)
Dr van Barneveld was hopeful other countries would consider the research and science behind their results and adopt the maternity ring.
“By adopting this proactive innovation, the Australian pork industry can lead the world in pig welfare,” Dr van Barneveld said.
“That benefits the sow, the piglet, the pork producer and the consumer simultaneously.”
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