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Is higher welfare really that important?

Yes! Here’s why:

The compassionate choice 

Pigs are sentient beings with the ability to experience pain, fear, discomfort and stress. Pigs are incredibly intelligent, social, inquisitive and just like any other animal, they deserve to live a life free from pain and suffering and to experience kindness and compassion. Following the RSPCA standards improves welfare and helps millions of farmed animals to live better lives.

The commercial choice

We know that as consumers become more welfare aware, they are voting with their wallets and are increasingly choosing to buy higher welfare produce. Don’t believe us? Here’s the data to prove it: 

  • 55% of people would pay more for products that explicitly state they had not come from a caged animal*
  • 67% of the British public oppose the use of farrowing crates
  • 61% of people check food labels to see how an animal has been reared/kept*
  • RSPCA Assured ranked as first choice for shoppers looking for animal welfare assurance**
  • *RSPCA kindness index 2024
  • **2,000 UK adults polled in Q4 2023

What have we done for welfare? 

There are over 700 standards that protect the welfare of RSPCA Assured pigs. Here’s a quick look at some of our key achievements:

  • 1996 - The standards were originally published outlining detailed standards covering on-farm, during transport and slaughter. Key elements of the scheme included
    • sows are not to be tethered or kept in stalls (which eventually became illegal in the UK in 1999,
    • straw or equivalent bedding must be provided (which is still not a legal requirement today and many pigs live on fully slatted, bare floors with minimal enrichment),
    • Farrowing crates to be phased out
    • stocking densities must not be exceeded
    • pigs must not be sold at livestock markets (which still happens in the industry today) and
    • no unnecessary mutilations including castration. 

  • 1998 - The RSPCA introduced a ban on surgical castration, due to the fact it is a painful procedure with few welfare benefits to justify the practice.

  • 1998 - A ban on routine tail docking and nose clipping was introduced whereby scheme members were only permitted to carry out these procedures in exceptional circumstances which required written permission. 

  • 1998 - The use of electric goads was banned from the standards. 

  • 2000 - In addition to bedding being already required, the provision of suitable and sufficient nesting material for sows, prior to farrowing, became a requirement in the standards.
  • 2003 - A ban on routine teeth clipping was introduced except under exceptional circumstances and written permission required. 

  • 2008 - Detailed standards on gas killing were introduced including minimum concentrations (minimum average 90%), emergency producers, assessment of effectiveness of the stun/kill, calibration of equipment etc. to ensure the abattoirs were operating at best practice. 

  • 2008 - The RSPCA introduced minimum space requirements (including a minimum lying area) for sows.

  • 2010 - A ban on farrowing crates for new members was introduced in January 2010. At this point, notice was given to all existing members that there would be a complete ban on farrowing crates on the scheme, from 1st January 2014. 

  • 2012 - Tail docking prohibited for free range pigs on the scheme. 

  • 2014 - Complete ban on farrowing crates under the scheme. 

  • 2016 - Welfare Outcome Assessment became a requirement to be carried out during audits. 

  • 2025/2026 - Split-sexing pigs by the time they reach an average of 50kg becomes mandatory, cull sows and boars to be transported and slaughtered to RSPCA Pig Welfare Standards.
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