Industry leads way to give welfare of pigs top priority

Published on Friday 26 June 2009 21:48

PIG producers in Scotland conform to the just about the highest welfare standards in the world, and certainly far ahead of most of the EU, with the notable exception of Sweden.

Stalls that confine breeding sows have been banned for over a decade: this regime comes at a considerable cost to producers and the fact is that the Scottish pig herd has fallen from 70,000 sows in the mid-1990s to little over 36,000.

The sector is in serious danger of surrendering critical mass and leaving consumers with a declining choice of where they buy their bacon and pork.

However, Quality Meat Scotland has now joined forces with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to give consumers the ultimate assurance that pigs in Scotland will be subject to even higher standards.

Effectively, the 200 remaining pig farms in Scotland will be subject to regular visits from SSPCA inspectors in addition to the annual inspections that they must pass to remain as sources of "Specially Selected Scotch Pork."

The chief executive of QMS, 'Uel Morton, said: "The Scottish red meat industry has a track record of introducing pioneering measures as far as farm assurance is concerned and once again we are leading from the front with this unique agreement.

"We know from our research that high animal welfare standards are very important to consumers.

"The labelling clearly showing that our pork is independently approved by Scotland's animal welfare charity takes us to a new level as far as consumer assurance in the UK is concerned."

Donald Biggar, the chairman of QMS, was questioned on whether there was a possibility that the link with the SSPCA on pigs could be extended to cover farm assurance for both beef and lamb.

He said: "That would the ultimate aim and put us in a lead position with consumers even ahead of where we already stand."

Stuart Earley, the chief executive of the SSPCA, said: "This is a tremendously exciting partnership which will ensure and demonstrate the highest animal welfare standards.

"What is absolutely key in that the SSPCA will remain entirely impartial within this scheme and will not receive any income, either directly or through any subsidiary."

Mike Flynn, the chief inspector with the SSPCA, said: "We have very few problems with the vast majority of Scottish farmers and a sound relationship with the industry.

"But with just over 60 inspectors it could be difficult to get around the 10,000 farms that signed up for the various livestock farm assurance schemes, but we certainly do not rule out this in the longer-term."