Requirements for keeping pigs

Question 1

Estonian legal requirements:
Persons attending to pigs must have

Answer 1

the necessary knowledge about the anatomy, physiology and behavioral habits of the species and the requirements for animal protection.

Question 2

Estonian legal requirements:
Health checks of pigs point (1)

Answer 2

(1) Persons specified in paragraph 3 have to check pigs at least once a day to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Question 3

Estonian legal requirements:
Health checks of pigs point (2)

Answer 3

(2) Each sick or injured pig must get necessary treatment and care.

For veterinary care the keeper must call a vet immediately.

If necessary, the sick or injured pig must be separated from other animals, into a room with dry bedding.

Question 4

When keeping pigs in groups, special attention should be paid to

Answer 4

avoiding scrambling between pigs or biting of tails and ears.

Question 5

Boar pens must be at least

Answer 5

6 m2.

If the same pens are used for natural services, the floor area must be at least 10 m2.

The pen must be free of any obstacles.

Question 6

The use of tethers for gilts and sows is prohibited.

During a period starting from four weeks after service to one week before the expected time of farrowing, the gilts and sows must be kept in

Answer 6

separate groups (not in the individual insemination and farrowing cages).

Question 7

the gilts and sows must be kept in separate groups and not in cages, during a period starting from

Answer 7

four weeks after service to one week before the expected time of farrowing

Question 8

In a group pen, each inseminated gilt and pregnant sow must be provided at least

Answer 8

1.64 m2 and 2.25 m2 of free floor space.

Question 9

Of the floor space that must be provided to each inseminated gilt (1.64 m2) and pregnant sow (2.25 m2), at least how much must be level?

Answer 9

0.95 m2 for a gilt and 1.3 m2 for a sow must be level, with drainage slots for max 15% of it.

Question 10

When gilts and sows are kept in a group of fewer than six individuals, the group pen must be how much bigger?

Answer 10

must be 10% bigger.

Question 11

When gilts and sows are kept in a group of 40 or more individuals, the free floor space specified in §3 may be how much smaller than that of <6 pig groups.

Answer 11

10% smaller.

Question 12

The side length of a group pen for gilts and sows must be at least

Answer 12

2.8 m.

If there are less than 6 sows in the group, the side length of the pen must be at least 2.4 m.

Question 13

If there are less than 6 sows in the group, the side length of the pen must be at least

Answer 13

2.4 m.

The side length of a bigger group pen for gilts and sows must be at least 2.8 m.

Question 14

If there are fewer than 10 gilts and sows in the herd, they may be kept in

Answer 14

single pens, provided they have space to turn around unobstructed.

Question 15

Gilts and sows must have free permanent access to

Answer 15

manipulable material that is harmless to health.

Question 16

Pregnant gilts and sows must, if necessary, be treated against

Answer 16

external and internal parasites.

Question 17

Before placing in farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts must be

Answer 17

cleaned.

Question 18

In the week before the expected farrowing time, the sows and gilts in farrowing pens must be given

Answer 18

suitable nesting material, unless it is not technically feasible due to the slurry system in the establishment.

Question 19

An unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt must be available in farrowing crates for

Answer 19

the ease of natural or assisted farrowing.

Question 20

In the farrowing crates the sows must have unobstructed space to suckle piglets. Also, piglets must be provided with

Answer 20

adequate opportunities to escape and hide from the sows.

Question 21

Piglets in the farrowing crates must have a part of the total floor that is

Answer 21

solid or covered with a mat, or littered with suitable material, and sufficient to allow the animals to rest together at the same time.

If necessary, a heating device must be used in the area where piglets sleep.

Question 22

Piglets must not be weaned from the sow at less than

Answer 22

28 days of age.

Question 23

Piglets may be weaned up to seven days earlier (than 28 days old) due to

Answer 23

the health and wellbeing of piglets or sows, or due to specific production technology.

In that case they are moved into specialized housings, which are emptied and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before the introduction of a new group.

Question 24

Weaners are kept in

Answer 24

groups and the requirements of the Directive, §5, are followed.

Question 25

Pigs in their rooms or facilities must have permanent access to

Answer 25

a sufficient quantity of safe to healthy material, suitable to enable proper investigation and manipulation activities.

Question 26

All automatic and mechanical devices necessary for pig health and wellbeing have to be

Answer 26

examined at least once a day. Faults or failures have to be attended to immediately. Steps to ensure pig health and wellbeing have to be implemented until the device is operable again.

Question 27

If mechanical ventilation is used, it must

Answer 27

have a backup and alarm system. Alarm systems must be tested regularly.

Question 28

Electric cattle prods for moving pigs may be used for

Answer 28

only adult stock.

Question 29

Pigs must not be kept in permanently dark rooms. Rooms or facilities for keeping pigs must have

Answer 29

adequate lighting, either natural or artificial.

Question 30

Artificial light with an intensity of at least

Answer 30

40 lux must be switched on for at least 9 am - 5 pm per day (8h/day). There must be an additional source of light available 24 hours for health inspection, if necessary.

Question 31

How much free floor space (m2) is required per pig?

Answer 31

weaners at 20-30 kg need 0.30 m2 per pig finishers at more than 110 kg need 1.00 m2 per pig

Question 32

How frequently are pigs required to be fed?

Answer 32

Pigs must be fed at least once a day.

Question 33

If pigs are not fed freely or automatically, then all the pigs must have

Answer 33

simultaneous access to fodder.

Question 34

What pigs are required to have free access to water? (3)

Answer 34

Pigs of the age above two weeks must have clean drinking water as needed. Pigs in hot environment or with health problems must have permanent free access to clean drinking water.

Question 35

Dry pregnant sows and gilts, in order to satisfy their hunger and the need to chew, must be

Answer 35

given a sufficient quantity of bulky or high-fibre food as well as high-energy food.

Question 36

Veterinary procedures allowed for pigs are: (5)

Answer 36

1) reduction of corner teeth of piglets of up to seven days of age 2) reducing boars’ tusks in length 3) tail-docking (illegal for preventative reasons but legal if "prescribed" by a vet to tx cannibalism and tail-biting) 4) castration of male pigs by other means than tearing of tissues 5) nose-ringing of boars kept in outdoor husbandry systems

Question 37

Veterinary procedures of Paragraph 1 articles 1-3 (teeth/tusk cutting & tail-docking) may be carried out only if

Answer 37

required for the health and wellbeing of other pigs, when there are injuries on ears, tails or udders.

Question 38

Veterinary procedures of §18, section 1 (castration etc.), in accordance with "Animal Welfare Act" §9 section 3, may be performed by

Answer 38

a veterinarian or a person of adequate qualifications with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Question 39

Veterinary procedures of § 18, section 1, articles 3 and 4 (castration and nose-ringing) for pigs of more than 7 days of age may be performed only by

Answer 39

a veterinarian, using general and regional anesthesia.

Question 40

If the person performing veterinary procedures is not a veterinarian, they must

Answer 40

have a certificate to confirm the theoretical and practical training. Theoretical training must give the required knowledge about the anatomy, physiology, surgery of pigs, behavioral habits of the species and animal protection legislation. Practical training must include skills for performing the veterinary procedures listed in §18, Section 1. Practical skills have to be trained under the supervision of a veterinarian, complying with the requirements of "Animal Welfare Act".

Question 41

When performing the veterinary procedures listed in §18 (surgical procedures), Section 1, the pigs have to be

Answer 41

protected of avoidable suffering and infections. The procedures must be carried out causing minimal pain possible.

Question 42

Culling rate for sows.

Answer 42

35-40%