The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010

PART 2 S General additional conditions

Inspection S

2.  All pigs must be inspected by the person responsible for the pigs at least once a day to check that they are in a state of well-being.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 6 para. 2 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Tethering S

3.  No person may 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.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 6 para. 3 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

4.—(1) Only tethers designed not to cause injury to the pigs may be used and they must be inspected regularly and adjusted as necessary to ensure a comfortable fit.

(2) Only tethers of sufficient length to allow the pigs to move as stipulated in paragraph 5(2) and designed, to avoid, as far as possible, any risk of strangulation, pain or injury, may be used.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 6 para. 4 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Accommodation S

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

(2) The accommodation used for pigs must 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.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 6 para. 5 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

6.—(1) The dimension of any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs in accordance with these Regulations must 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) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a female pig for the period between 7 days before the predicted day of its farrowing and the day on which the weaning of its piglets (including any piglets fostered by it) is complete.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a pig held 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) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a pig held 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 that sub-paragraph.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 6 para. 6 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Artificially lit buildings S

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

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 6 para. 7 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Prevention of fighting S

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

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

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 6 para. 8 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Training S

9.  Any person who employs or engages a person to attend to pigs must ensure that the person attending to those pigs has received instruction and guidance on the relevant provisions of these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 6 para. 9 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Cleaning and disinfection S

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.

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 6 para. 10 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Bedding S

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

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 6 para. 11 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Floors S

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

(a) be smooth but not slippery;

(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.

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 6 para. 12 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

13.  On and after 1st January 2013, when concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups—

(a) the maximum width of the openings between the slats must be—

(i) 11 mm for piglets;

(ii) 14 mm for weaners;

(iii) 18 mm for rearing pigs;

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

(b) the minimum width of the slats must be—

(i) 50 mm for piglets and weaners; and

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

Commencement Information

I12 Sch. 6 para. 13 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Feeding S

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 for feeding the animals individually, each pig must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding group.

Commencement Information

I13 Sch. 6 para. 14 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Drinking water S

15.  All pigs over 2 weeks of age must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh drinking water.

Commencement Information

I14 Sch. 6 para. 15 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Environmental enrichment S

16.  To enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, 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.

Commencement Information

I15 Sch. 6 para. 16 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Prohibition on the use of the sweat-box system S

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

Commencement Information

I16 Sch. 6 para. 17 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1

Noise levels S

18.—(1) Pigs must not be exposed to constant or sudden noise.

(2) Noise levels above 85 dBA must be avoided in that part of any building where pigs are kept.

Commencement Information

I17 Sch. 6 para. 18 in force at 5.11.2010, see reg. 1