The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010

PART 4 Sows and gilts

Prevention of parasites

22.  Pregnant gilts and sows must, where necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites.

Farrowing

23.  If they are placed in farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts must be thoroughly clean.

24.  In the week before the expected farrowing time, sows and gilts must be given suitable nesting material in sufficient quantity unless it is not technically feasible for the slurry system used.

25.  During farrowing, an unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt must be available for the ease of natural or assisted farrowing.

26.  Farrowing pens where sows are kept loose must have some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails.

27.  In the week before the expected farrowing time and during farrowing, sows and gilts may be kept out of sight of other pigs.

Group housing

28.  Sows and gilts must be kept in groups except during the period between 7 days before the predicted day of farrowing and the day on which the weaning of piglets (including any piglets fostered) is complete.

29.  On and after 1st January 2013, the pen where the group is kept must have sides greater than 2.8m in length, except when there are less than 6 individuals in the group, when the sides of the pen must be no less than 2.4m in length.

30.  On and after 1st January 2013—

(a) the total unobstructed floor area available to each gilt after service and to each sow when such gilts or sows are kept in groups must be at least 1.64m² and 2.25m² respectively;

(b) when gilts after service or sows are kept in groups of fewer than 6 individuals the unobstructed floor area must be increased by 10%;

(c) when gilts after service or sows are kept in groups of 40 or more individuals the unobstructed floor area may be decreased by 10%.

31.  On or after 1st January 2013, for gilts after service and pregnant sows, a part of the area required under paragraph 29 equal to at least 0.95m² per gilt and at least 1.3m² per sow must be of continuous solid floor of which a maximum of 15% is reserved for drainage openings.

32.  Sows and gilts kept on holdings of fewer than 10 sows may be kept individually provided that their accommodation complies with the requirements of paragraphs 5 and 6.

33.  In addition to the requirements of paragraph 13, sows and gilts must be fed using a system which ensures that each individual can obtain sufficient food even when competitors for the food are present.

34.  All dry pregnant sows and gilts must be given a sufficient quantity of bulky or high fibre food as well as high energy food to satisfy their hunger and need to chew.