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
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • 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. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

BVA infographic over-simplifies pig farm welfare – NPA

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverJuly 20, 20183 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

An infographic published today by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) paints an over simplistic view of animal welfare on pig farms, the NPA has warned.

The infographic, which can be downloaded here, sets out the BVA’s priorities for farm animal welfare and indicates, in its view, whether or not the schemes address these priorities in their standards.

All seven schemes in the infographic meet the criteria for three of these priorities – they are all underpinned by veterinary expertise, support responsible use of antimicrobials and have measures in place to prevent the spread of disease, the association said. In addition, all those that do provide assurance for slaughter require animals to be stunned before slaughter, which is a policy priority for BVA.

However, under a welfare priority that gauges whether a scheme ‘prohibits environments that substantially reduce behavioural opportunity’, Red Tractor gets a cross (as opposed to a tick), along with Quality Meat Scotland and Lion Eggs. In its explanation, the BVA’s infographic highlights the use farrowing crates for sows, from pre-birth until weaning.

BVA have produced the infographic as part of their #ChooseAssured campaign alongside blogs detailing how to use the infographic and the rationale behind its development.

BVA president John Fishwick said: “The provenance and welfare credentials of our food is becoming increasingly important in our shopping choices. More and more people want to know about the health and welfare credentials of the animal-derived food they buy such as meat, eggs and dairy products.

“Vets can help the public engage with farm assurance schemes and make informed choices about how to use them in line with their own views on ethics and sustainability.”

He insisted the infographic was not intended to be a league table but to allow people to understand what aspects of animal health and welfare are addressed by assurance schemes ‘so that they can decide which scheme best aligns with their own individual preferences and priorities’.

“We very much hope that this infographic raises awareness of the value of farm assurance schemes and proves to be a useful tool when choosing and buying food,” he added.

NPA reaction

But NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “We are concerned this infographic could mislead consumers on the realities of pig production and the complex factors surrounding animal welfare.

“Farrowing crates are used across the pig industry for very important reasons, not least to protect piglets from being crushed by their mothers. We would not want consumers to think that farms that use farrowing crates should somehow be equated with lower welfare. That is not the case.

“As we have always maintained, whether a farm is large or small or whatever system is deployed, the most important factor in the welfare of the pig is the quality of husbandry.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticlePig producers welcome Welsh government £1.29 million investment
Next Article Hello trouble
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

Tell us what you think of Pig World!

May 12, 2025

National PRRS control and biosecurity programme making strides in Scotland

May 9, 2025

Historic UK-US trade deal – industry reaction

May 8, 2025
Latest News

Tell us what you think of Pig World!

May 12, 2025

National PRRS control and biosecurity programme making strides in Scotland

May 9, 2025

Historic UK-US trade deal – industry reaction

May 8, 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
  • Managing Director

    • Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire
    • United Pig Co-operative (UPC)
  • Experienced Pig Stockperson – Ref 1736 South East England

    • South East England
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Senior Pig Stockperson – Ref 1735 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • 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
  • 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.