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RSPCA applauds industry vote to move away from sow stalls

The RSPCA today commended Australian pig farmers for voting to phase out the use of sow stalls.

“Today’s vote tops off what has been a good year for pig welfare,” said RSPCA Australia CEO Heather Neil.

“250,000 breeding sows spend all or part of their pregnancies in a sow stall. The stalls are about as pig as the sow herself and she can only take a small step forwards and backwards

“Pigs confined in this way have no opportunity to express normal behaviours, leading to great frustration and unresolved aggression. An inability to exercise causes their muscles and bones to deteriorate and they may have great difficulty in standing up or lying down.

“Phasing out sow stalls will dramatically improve the welfare of breeding sows and we hope that farrowing crates are next on the industry’s hit list.”