Document type : Report published by theADHB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, UK)
Authors : ADHB
Preview: In the seven years since the instigation of the Real Welfare Scheme (2013-2019), over 13 million pigs have been individually assessed by specially trained vets, providing a credible, benchmarked level of welfare at both an industry and an individual farm level. While there is always more to do, the evidence has shown, on average, the poorest performing farms have improved during this period. A summary of the overall improvements can be found below.●Hospital - only 0.05% of pigs needed hospitalisation, showing that the majority of farmers identify and provide appropriate care (for example, moving to a hospital pen) for affected pigs●Lameness - only 0.15% of pigs were lame, showing that either levels of lameness on farms are low or that the majority of farmers identify and provide appropriate care (for example, moving to a hospital pen) for affected pigs●Tail damage - 0.15% of pigs had severe tail damage and 72% of pigs were docked. While this figure compares favourably to other parts of the world where tail docking is permitted, the pig industry is seeking to reduce the need for tail docking. Real Welfare provides an evidence base that the industry can work from and measure positive change in the future●Body marks - only 0.18% of pigs had severe body marks, showing that farmers deal well with these pigs, and the overall level is low●Environmental enrichment - the average enrichment ratio per pen was 0.52, showing there is scope for improvement, as enrichment is, on average, only slightly preferred to pen mates and pen fittings. For 1% of pigs, no enrichment was seen; this figure shows that improvements must be made, to comply with legislation●The findings show that the vast majority of farms are either addressing welfare issues or already have them under control●Prevalence of the main welfare outcomes shows a decreasing trend over time, except for severe tail lesions (in which this decreasing trend is not maintained in the last couple of years). At the same time, there is a slight increasing trend for the enrichment use ratio, which is desirable. However, there is room for improvement, particularly in reducing tail damage and further increasing enrichment use●Seasonal effects were found to influence the prevalence of all five of the welfare outcomes, and tended to vary according to the welfare outcome that was considered. Severe tail lesions were more prevalent in autumn and spring, corresponding with greater temperature fluctuations. Higher enrichment use ratio was observed in autumn and winter, possibly associated with greater supplies of bedding ●While the percentage of pigs with a welfare issue could be high in individual pens, the mean prevalence of the different welfare outcomes overall was low. This confirms that where issues are found during an assessment, they are localised and not uniform across a farm. They also change over time●This assessment of Real Welfare outcomes shows the scheme provides a positive impact, especially in providing good support to decrease lameness, severe body marks and improve hospital pen management.
Report quoted in an article published on 26 January 2021 in Farming UK : Vast majority of UK pig farms have "good levels of welfare"
