transported up to 36 hours without food, water or a break. This is a full day and a half on a
trailer with no provisions, in all weather extremes. If the sow is unfortunate enough to be
destined for the United States (which is likely as few slaughter facilities exist for cull sows in
Canada), the clock will be set back to zero at the border and she will have to withstand an
average of 10 additional hours until she finally reaches her destination. But as investigations
have uncovered, this may not be her final destination either. We saw cull sows from Canada
being sent to collecting stations in the States, only to be further regrouped and sent once
again on their way. The transportation of cull sows is truly one of the most troubling from a
welfare perspective. This is a problem recognized by the federal agency charged with the
protection of farm animals, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, but to date remains
unaddressed.
Alternatives to sow stalls exist and are in use in many countries. Group housing on straw is
the simplest model and one that's been around for hundreds of years. It allows groups of
pregnant sows to freely walk around, root and create nests. A middle-ground is also
available, where the pens are available to the sows for feeding time but with a bump of her
rear, are unlatched to allow her the freedom to return to the open area with her barn-mates.
Studies contrasting the systems conducted at Glenlea Research Station in Manitoba and the
Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatchewan have shown improvements to the sow's physical and
mental state as well as less lameness and resultant culling due to injury and disease in the
non-sow-stall systems.
Netherlands. The European Union is currently phasing out the use of gestation stalls and in
2013, their use will be illegal.
California who banned the use of ALL intensive confinement systems (including veal crates
and battery cages for egg-laying hens).
Canadian public must make their voices heard and demand an end to these cruel and
unnecessary confinement systems.