Free Range Pig Producers Association

 

Australia to become Sow Stall Free?

Will Australian pig producers listen to the consumer and instigate change to the way they currently house their pigs?

 

Sow Stalls are appalling little metal cages that are used to house and control fully grown female pigs.  They allow producers to keep an enormous number of animals in a very small area of land.

 

Industry says that they need the stalls and have recently shown footage of sows fighting to defend confining pigs to individual cages.  Problem is, most producers still will not give the pigs enough room, room to escape confrontation.

 

Have you ever travelled on peak hour train?  Tolerated that invasion of your personal space because your journey is relatively short and you just want to get home?  Next time you are on that train, imagine how you would feel if the doors were never to open again and think about the life endured by confined pigs.

 

That one video doing the rounds to show how aggressive sows are without stalls pales in comparison to this story that sadly demonstrates what happens when pigs have no escape from their confinement.  

 

No doubt some producers will attempt to re-package sow stalls in a bid to sell them to the public but this industry has hidden them from view for so long it is going to be a hard sell.  Until now sow stalls have been concealed under a veil of green washing with the industry only ever portraying themselves with images of green fields, open pastures and happy contented pigs.  Why?  Did they know stalls would never be accepted by consumers?  Are they ashamed to show how they truly raise their pigs?

 

Give in,  give the pigs some space.

What is Bred Free Range?

 

This is a very different production method that takes advantage of the consumer's understanding of the term free range.  Currently, there is an attempt to blur the lines of definition and have this system of farming included in the *Free Range Pork Farmers Association.  You really have to question the intent of the parties involved.  A lot of work has gone into protecting free range producers and their businesses by fighting for definitions that allow them to differentiate their product. At present, there is no national standard for the production of free range meat or eggs.  It is very unfortunate that big business has seized this opportunity to take advantage of a growing demand and the consumer's lack of knowledge about pork production methods.  If the pork you buy is not certified free range or Humane Choice, you have to ask the question, why?  

 

Remember, 'bred' free range does not mean free to range.  Insist on knowing more about the supplier of your pork and ask your butcher for assurance that it is genuine free range.  Become better informed, learn just what it is you seek when you are purchasing pork. 

 

*This site is not affiliated with, nor does it support the Free Range Pork Farmers Association with their current move to include 'bred' free range under the association banner.

 

Farm Certification

The only dedicated free range certification provider, Humane Choice offers a complete quality assurance program for free range pork producers.   Certification under the Humane Choice scheme encompasses animal welfare standards, farm food safety, herd health programs and the assurance to your customers that your farm is genuinely free range.

 

Certified Farms are able to display the Humane Choice logo on their product and promotional material to give them that marketing edge.