The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2001

[F1 PART II E+W GENERAL ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 6 substituted (14.7.2003) by The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1726), regs. 1(2), 3(4) (with reg. 2)

Inspection E+W

2.   All pigs shall be inspected by the owner or keeper of the pigs at least once a day to check that they are in a state of well being.

3.   Where necessary, sick or injured pigs shall be temporarily isolated in suitable accommodation with dry comfortable bedding.

Tethering E+W

4.   No person shall tether or cause to be tethered any pig except while it is undergoing any examination, test, treatment or operation carried out for any veterinary purpose.

5.— (1) Where the use of tethers is permitted in accordance with paragraph 4, they shall not cause injury to the pigs and shall be inspected regularly and adjusted as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit.

(2) Each tether shall be of sufficient length to allow the pigs to move as stipulated in paragraph 6(2) below and the design shall be such as to avoid, as far as possible, any risk of strangulation, pain or injury.

Accommodation E+W

6.— (1) A pig shall be free to turn round without difficulty at all times.

(2) The accommodation used for pigs shall be constructed in such a way as to allow each pig to —

(a) stand up, lie down and rest without difficulty;

(b) have a clean, comfortable and adequately drained place in which it can rest;

(c) see other pigs, unless the pig is isolated for veterinary reasons;

(d) maintain a comfortable temperature; and

(e) have enough space to allow all the animals to lie down at the same time.

7.— (1) The dimension of any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs in accordance with these Regulations shall be such that the internal area is not less than the square of the length of the pig, and no internal side is less than 75% of the length of the pig, the length of the pig in each case being measured from the tip of its snout to the base of its tail while it is standing with its back straight.

(2) Paragraph 7(1) does not apply to a female pig for the period between seven days before the predicted day of her farrowing and the day on which the weaning of her piglets (including any piglets fostered by her) is complete.

(3) A person shall not be guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a pig in a stall or pen —

(a) while it is undergoing any examination, test, treatment or operation carried out for veterinary purposes;

(b) for the purposes of service, artificial insemination or collection of semen;

(c) while it is fed on any particular occasion;

(d) for the purposes of marking, washing or weighing it;

(e) while its accommodation is being cleaned; or

(f) while it is awaiting loading for transportation,

provided that the period during which it is so kept is not longer than necessary for that purpose.

(4) A person shall not be guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a pig in a stall or pen which the pig can enter or leave at will, provided that the stall or pen is entered from a stall or pen in which the pig is kept without contravention of this paragraph.

Artificially lit buildings E+W

8.   Where pigs are kept in an artificially lit building then, lighting with an intensity of at least 40 lux shall be provided for a minimum period of 8 hours per day subject to Schedule 1, paragraph 16, to these Regulations.

Prevention of fighting E+W

9.— (1) If pigs are kept together, measures shall be taken to prevent fighting which goes beyond normal behaviour.

(2) Pigs which show persistent aggression towards others or are victims of such aggression shall be isolated or kept separate from the group.

Cleaning and disinfection E+W

10.— (1) Housing, pens, equipment and utensils used for pigs must be properly cleaned and disinfected as necessary to prevent cross-infection and the build-up of disease-carrying organisms.

(2) Faeces, urine and uneaten or spilt food must be removed as often as necessary to minimise smell and avoid attracting flies or rodents.

Bedding E+W

11.   Where bedding is provided, this must be clean, dry and not harmful to the pigs.

Floors E+W

12.   Where pigs are kept in a building, floors shall —

(a) be smooth but not slippery so as to prevent injury to the pigs;

(b) be so designed constructed and maintained as not to cause injury or suffering to pigs standing or lying on them;

(c) be suitable for the size and weight of the pigs; and

(d) where no litter is provided, form a rigid, even and stable surface.

13.   When concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups the maximum width of the openings must be —

(a) 11mm for piglets;

(b) 14 mm for weaners;

(c) 18mm for rearing pigs;

(d) 20 mm for gilts after service and sows;

the minimum slat width must be —

(e) 50 mm for piglets and weaners;

(f) 80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service and sows.

Feeding E+W

14.— (1) All pigs must be fed at least once a day.

(2) Where pigs are housed in a group and do not have continuous access to feed, or are not fed by an automatic feeding system, feeding the animals individually, each pig must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding group.

Drinking water E+W

15.   All pigs over two weeks of age must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh drinking water.

Environmental enrichment E+W

16.   To enable proper investigation and manipulation activities to take place, all pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such which does not adversely affect the health of the animals.

Prohibition on the use of the sweat-box system E+W

17.   Pigs shall not be kept in an environment which involves maintaining high temperatures and high humidity (known as the “sweat-box system”).

Noise levels E+W

18.   Pigs shall not be exposed to constant or sudden noise. Noise levels above 85dBA shall be avoided in that part of any building where pigs are kept.]

Interventions E+W

F2 19.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 20.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 21.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 22.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 23.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 24.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 25.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.

F2 26.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2 Sch. 6 paras. 19-26 revoked (28.3.2007) by The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1027), reg. 1, Sch.