Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. July 2025
    2. June 2025
    3. 2025 Innovation supplement
    4. May 2025
    5. April 2025
    6. March 2025
    7. 2025 Buildings supplement
    8. February 2025
    9. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    10. January 2025
    11. December 2024
    12. November 2024
    13. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    14. October 2024
    15. September 2024
    16. August 2024
    17. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    18. July 2024
    19. June 2024
    20. 2024 Innovation supplement
    21. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    22. May 2024
    23. April 2024
    24. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    25. March 2024
    26. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    27. February 2024
    28. January 2024
    29. December 2023
    30. November 2023
    31. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    32. October 2023
    33. September 2023
    34. Health Supplement
    Featured

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
    Recent

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Alistair Driver

Spotlight on welfare shines ever brighter

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverMarch 30, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The spotlight on pig welfare shows no sign of dimming.

In this (April Pig World) edition alone, we report on the Co-op’s decision to switch to 100% outdoor-bred pork; Wayland’s announcement that all its sows are moving outdoors; calls for method of production (MoP) labelling; questions over the inclusion of slatted systems and farrowing crates in Red Tractor’s standards stemming from Farming Today’s ‘Pig Week’ and calls for UK farmers to move away from farrowing crates at a Bristol conference.

All against the backdrop of the Government’s plans to use Brexit to further enhance our animal welfare standards.

It is all, seemingly, a reflection of growing consumer and media interest, partly driven by animal welfare campaign groups, in how farm animals, and particularly pigs, are bred and reared.

The Co-op’s move is interesting. It is striking that the products will be sold in the standard range – a clear attempt to show that ‘high welfare’ outdoor production doesn’t have to come at a cost to consumers.

The Co-op was at pains to say the move is about pig welfare, rather than the bottom line – but it is clearly hoping it will earn more traction among shoppers drawn to its ‘ethical values’.  While, in many ways, the initiative sends out a positive message about British pork to consumers, the context needs to be clarified, as I tried to do when Farming Today picked my brains on the subject.

Some farmers can produce pigs outdoors. Others can’t. Some retailers can source all their pork from outdoor-bred pigs. Larger or discount ones can’t because the supply isn’t there or the price isn’t right.

The key messages, as set out by the NPA are, firstly, that the diversity of the UK’s pig systems is one of the industry’s greatest strengths, giving consumers choice and meeting demand at all price points, including for those not interested whether sows live indoors or out.

And, secondly, that consumers can expect high welfare, food safety and traceability standards from indoor pigs, too.

Much will depend on how transparent the industry wants to be – and many within it are wary, for obvious reasons. The Morgans did a great job hosting ‘Pig Week’ in arctic Yorkshire weather.

Their honesty and desire to educate won over many inside and outside the industry, but also put the spotlight on the use of slats and farrowing crates on Red Tractor farms.

This is the dilemma the industry faces, particularly as calls grow for MoP labelling, a policy Defra Secretary Michael Gove is clearly very keen on. The scrutiny is not going away and the industry will increasingly need to have our answers ready.

While there will always be different views within the industry, most agree that the current diverse structure is mutually beneficial. And the last thing anybody needs is for parts of it to be ushered through the door in a way that only leaves it open for cheap imports.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleReport highlights farming fears over post-Brexit labour shortages
Next Article Something In the Air
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Comment: British pork reimagined: Data-led marketing for a changing consumer

July 9, 2025

Comment: Market recovery, export growth and on-farm innovation

July 7, 2025

Comment: Encouraging signs as big pig issues discussed in parliament

July 4, 2025
Latest News

New government food strategy a welcome step, but must be backed by pragmatic policy – NFU

July 18, 2025

AHDB to explore retail trends and consumer perceptions of farming at October conference

July 17, 2025

GB pig prices for week ending July 12, 2025 – SPP continues to inch up

July 16, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1763 Scotland

    • Scotland
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Piggery Stockpersons – Ref 1762 Western Australia

    • Western Australia
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Assistant Pig Farm Manager – Ref 1761 Leicestershire

    • Leicestershire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.