Colorado Pork Producers Announce New Animal Management Procedures

December 18, 2007 — Harry Snelson

Colorado pork producers announced today they will begin to phase in group housing for pregnant sows on their Colorado farms over a 10-year period.

"Although animal welfare experts and professional groups have found no one method of housing gestating sows that is clearly better than the other, when managed properly, some concerns have been voiced about the use of individual stalls for pregnant sows," explained Ivan Steinke, executive director of the Colorado Pork Producers Council.

"Individual stalls, the standard practice used in the swine industry, are used to provide for the health, safety and well-being for each gestating sow."

"To address public concerns and changing market conditions, Colorado's pork producers will embark on a 10-year phase-in that will allow producers to thoroughly evaluate and determine the best animal welfare practices for group housing," said Steinke. Because individual stalls continue to be the industry standard, producers may need to reconfigure their farms, acquire new equipment and staff appropriately in order to provide the best animal care with group housing systems."

Dr. Temple Grandin, an internationally recognized expert on animal handling and behavior and a professor at Colorado State University, also commended the pork producers, noting, "A 10-year phase-in period of group housing will be needed to allow producers to change pig genetics and train management to the new system."

Dr. Bernard E. Rollin, professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, stated the change as showing "great sensitivity to changing societal ethical concerns about animals."

More than 90 percent of the sows in Colorado will be impacted by these animal management changes. Colorado's pork producers have also been proactive in participating in the National Pork Board's PQA and PQA Plus certification programs, which emphasize good management practices not only in the welfare of animals, but also in the handling and use of animal health products. These programs help to make sure that pork is produced in a way that ensures animal well-being.

[Ed. Note: The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) responded to the announcement by issuing the following statement: '"The American Veterinary Medical Association and other organizations recognize gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy.

This announcement does not change the association's [NPPC's] policy on gestation stalls.']

Harry Snelson is the Director of Communications for the AASV