RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PIGS 
adopted by the Standing Committee on 21 November 1986
Table of Contents
PREAMBLE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
STOCKMANSHIP AND INSPECTION OF PIGS
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
SPECIAL PHYSICAL PROCEDURES
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION
APPENDIX: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PIGS
INTRODUCTION
I. BOARS FOR BREEDING PURPOSES
II. DRY SOWS (SOWS BETWEEN WEANING AND PRENATAL PERIOD AND GILTS BETWEEN TIME FOR SERVING AND PRENATAL PERIOD)
III. SOWS DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD AND SOWS AND PIGLETS DURING THE SUCKLING PERIOD
IV. PIGLETS FROM WEANING TO ABOUT TEN WEEKS
V. PIGS FROM ABOUT TEN WEEKS TO SLAUGHTER OR SERVICE
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PREAMBLE
The Standing Committee of the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes.
Having regard to its responsibility under Article 9 of the Convention for the elaboration and adoption of recommendations to the Parties containing detailed provisions for the implementation of the principles set out in Chapter I of the Convention based on scientific knowledge concerning the various species of animals;
Aware also of the established experience in the implementation of the principles of animal welfare set out in Articles 3-7 of the Convention;
Considering that in the light of established experience and scientific knowledge about the essential health and welfare needs of pigs, continuous efforts have to be made to adapt both existing and future husbandry systems in order to satisfy these needs;
Aware that the health and welfare of pigs depend to a large extent upon good stockmanship, but also upon other environmental factors so that the conditions under which pigs are kept fulfill the need for appropriate nutrition and methods of feeding, freedom of movement, physical comfort, exploration, separate resting and dunging areas, social contacts with other pigs and the need for protection against adverse climatic conditions, injury, infestation and disease or behavioural disorder, as well as other essential needs as may be identified by established experience or scientific knowledge;
Bearing also in mind that it is an obligation of the Committee to reconsider any recommendation when appropriate new knowledge is available and therefore wishing to encourage the continuation of research by all Parties with the object of making optimum use of new techniques to meet the health and welfare needs of pigs,
Has adopted the following Recommendation concerning pigs:
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
1. This Recommendation shall apply to pigs kept for farming purposes.
2. Specific provisions contained in the Appendix to this Recommendation constitute an integral part thereof.
STOCKMANSHIP AND INSPECTION OF PIGS
Article 2
The pigs shall be cared for by a sufficient number of personnel with adequate theoretical and practical knowledge of pigs and of the husbandry system used to be able to recognise whether the pigs appear to be in good health or not, including behavioural changes and whether the total environment is adequate to keep them healthy.
Article 3
1. The pigs shall be thoroughly inspected at least once a day and for this purpose a source of light shall be available which is strong enough for each pig to be seen clearly.
2. For thorough inspection of the pigs, special attention shall be paid to bodily condition, movements, condition of hair, skin, eyes, ears, tail, legs and feet; attention shall also be paid to the presence of external parasites, to the condition of droppings and to feed and water consumption.
3. Thorough inspection of a group does not mean that each pig has to be examined individually. Individual examination is to be made only of those pigs for which the overall inspection indicates this as being necessary.
Article 4
1. At the inspection it must be borne in mind that the healthy pig has sounds, activity, movements and posture appropriate to its age, sex, breed or physiological condition, for example respiratory state, stage of sexual development or reproductive condition; that it has clean and bright eyes, clean hair and skin, normal legs and feet, normal feeding, drinking, sucking or suckling behaviour, normal exploratory behaviour and uses separate resting and dunging areas if available.
2. If pigs are apparently not in good health, or if they are showing obvious signs of adverse behavioural changes, the person responsible for them shall take steps without delay to establish the cause and shall take appropriate remedial action. If the immediate action taken by the person responsible is not effective either a veterinarian must be consulted or, if necessary, other expert advice must be sought.
If the cause is traced to an environmental factor within the production unit which it is not essential to remedy immediately, this should be corrected when the accommodation is emptied and before other pigs are put in.
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
Article 5
When considering accommodation for pigs the risk of outside environmental factors, such as noise, light, vibration, atmospheric pollution, should be taken into account.
Article 6
1. The design, construction and maintenance of buildings and equipment, in particular slatted or other perforated floors and tethering systems, as well as of other places where pigs are kept, must be such that the possibility of disease or injury to the pigs or risks of fire are reduced to a minimum.
2. The design, construction and maintenance of buildings and equipment for pigs shall be such as to allow without difficulty a thorough inspection of all animals.
3. Floors shall be easy to keep dry and non-slippery. Pens, equipment and fittings shall be designed and maintained in such a way as to reduce, as far as practicable, pigs coming into contact with urine or faeces or spills of water in their resting area. The lying area shall allow the pig to lie down, rest and get up normally.
4. Slatted, perforated or gridded floors shall be suitable for the size and weight of the pigs housed and form a rigid, even and stable surface.
5. Feeding and watering equipment shall be designed, constructed, placed and maintained so that contamination of the pigs' feed and water is minimised.
6. Suitable accommodation should be available for separation and treatment of sick or injured pigs.
Article 7
Parties should consider the possibilities of making arrangements for:
a. improved or new methods of pig husbandry or equipment to be tested and possibly approved from the point of view of animal health and welfare before their introduction into commercial use;
b. advice on health and welfare aspects to be sought when new buildings are to be constructed or existing buildings modified.
MANAGEMENT
Article 8
The available area for pigs must be adapted to their age, sex, breed or physiological condition, for example stage of sexual development, reproductive condition; it should, wherever possible, allow the pigs access to separate resting and dunging areas. Lack of space or overstocking leading to tail biting, trampling, smothering, or other disorders shall be avoided.
Article 9
All pigs should, wherever practicable, have access to straw, even in small amounts, or other suitable materials such as hay, maize chaff, grass, peat, earth, and bark, to reduce the risk of behavioural disorders and injuries.
Article 10
All pigs shall have appropriate access to adequate, nutritious and hygienic feed or wholesome liquid each day, and to adequate supplies of water of suitable quality, so as to meet their physiological needs.
Article 11
1. The accommodation for pigs should be kept so that the ambient temperature, the air velocity, the relative humidity, the dust level and other atmospheric conditions do not affect adversely the health and welfare of the pigs. Pigs kept outdoors should be provided in winter with adequate shelter, and in summer, shade and, if necessary, the possibility of regulating their body temperature by means of, for example, cold water or a mud bath.
2. The facilities for storing and handling manure in the accommodation shall be designed, maintained and managed so that the pigs are not exposed to gases in concentrations detrimental to their health, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide.
3. In closed premises where the health of the animals depends on an artificial ventilation system, a supply of fresh air shall also be guaranteed in case of failures in the system.
Article 12
Pigs shall not unnecessarily be exposed to constant or sudden noise. Ventilation fans, feeding machinery or other equipment shall be constructed, placed, operated and maintained in such a way that it causes the least possible noise, both directly inside the accommodation and indirectly through the structure of the accommodation itself. Taking account of the stock-handling practices in use the responsible person shall ensure that the pigs are not unnecessarily provoked into making noise.
Article 13
Where the light intensity necessary for activity of pigs comes from an artificial source, the pigs must not be kept permanently in strong light nor in total darkness. Artificial light sources must be mounted so as not to cause discomfort to the pigs.
Article 14
All automatic or other mechanical equipment upon which pigs depend for their health and welfare must be inspected at least once daily. An alarm system should be installed where a failure of the ventilation system could endanger the health or welfare of the pigs. Where defects are discovered these must be rectified immediately, or, if this is impracticable, other appropriate steps taken to safeguard the health and welfare of the pigs until the defect can be rectified.
Article 15
Those parts of the accommodation with which the pigs come into contact shall be thoroughly cleansed, and, where appropriate, disinfected, every time the accommodation has been emptied and before new pigs are brought in. While the accommodation is occupied by pigs, the interior surfaces and all equipment therein shall be kept satisfactorily clean.
SPECIAL PHYSICAL PROCEDURES
Article 16
1. Procedures resulting in the loss of a significant amount of tissue or the modification of bone structure of pigs shall be forbidden except for:
a. procedures for the purpose of treatment of disease or injury or other abnormality;
b. the following procedures which shall not be performed as a general practice and only in the interest of the animals:
i. clipping of the teeth of piglets if necessary to protect the sow's udder or the piglets from injury; boars' tusks may be clipped where necessary to prevent injury;
ii. docking of tails if notwithstanding implementation of the provisions under Article 4, this would seem necessary to prevent greater damage to the pigs by tail biting. Only the tip of the tail need usually be removed unless severe problems of tail biting are experienced.
c. the following procedures which should be avoided where possible:
i. castration of male pigs;
ii. notching or punching of pigs' ears unless necessary for permanent identification.
2. The procedures under sub-paragraph a. shall be carried out by a veterinary surgeon or under his supervision. Procedures under sub-paragraphs b. and c. i. shall be carried out by a veterinary surgeon or a skilled operator. Castration of male pigs over eight weeks of age shall be performed under anaesthesia by a veterinary surgeon or any other person qualified in accordance with domestic legislation.
Article 17
Tattooing or tagging must be done and ear tags must be designed, in such a way as to avoid unnecessary distress.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION
Article 18
This Recommendation shall have no direct application within Parties and shall be implemented according to the method that each Party considers adequate, that is through legislation or through administrative practice.
RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING PIGS
APPENDIX: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF PIGS
Introduction
In the implementation of the provisions in this Appendix, regard should be paid to the guidelines for space allowances set out in these provisions. These guidelines should be interpreted taking account of the following variables:
1. Climatic conditions vary widely according to time of year and geographical location and extremes of temperature and humidity will markedly affect space requirements.
2. Pigs are reared under a wide variety of husbandry systems ranging from totally outdoor to totally controlled indoor intensive environments.
3. There are many different housing designs and a wide variety of materials used in their construction.
4. There are many designs of flooring ranging from totally solid to totally slatted and made of differing materials. The presence or absence and type of bedding will also have an effect.
5. Group size varies from the individual to loose housed systems where a number of pigs are accommodated.
6. Individual penning varies according to its use, for example the boar pen compared to the farrowing crate. The boar pen may or may not include a service area and there are many designs of farrowing crate incorporating different features.
7. The sizes of pigs vary markedly in terms of length, girth, height and weight, both between and within the different pig categories, according to the breed, sex, age, plane of nutrition, rate of growth, stage of production and state of health.
I. BOARS FOR BREEDING PURPOSES
1. Boar pens shall be sited so as to allow the boar sound, smell and, if possible, sight of other pigs unless only one pig is kept on the farm.
2. The accommodation where boars are kept shall enable them to fulfil their need for resting and eliminative behaviour in different places. As a guideline the minimum size of a pen for the keeping of an adult boar should be 6 m2.
3. As a general rule, the area of a pen used for both the keeping of a boar and service purposes should be larger than the pen mentioned under paragraph 2 above.
4. Slatted flooring should not be used in the service area, nor shall this place be in other respects so designed or equipped as to cause injuries to boars or sows.
5. If the boar is kept together with other boars or sows, measures shall be taken to prevent excessive fighting, especially during feeding. If signs of severe fighting appear the animals shall be separated from each other.
6. Straw or other suitable material even in small amounts for the use and comfort of the boar is strongly recommended.
II. DRY SOWS (SOWS BETWEEN WEANING AND PRENATAL PERIOD AND GILTS BETWEEN TIME FOR SERVING AND PRENATAL PERIOD)
1. a. The accommodation where dry sows are kept should enable them to have access to separate resting and dunging areas, and permit social contacts. The housing of dry sows in groups should be aimed at whenever possible.
b. Dry sows kept in groups should be provided with feeding, dunging and resting areas appropriate for the comfort and welfare of each sow.
2. If accommodation provides for individual stalls for dry sows, these should be at least large enough for the sows to lie down, rest and get up normally. As a guideline, and depending on the size of in particular highly pregnant sows, the dimensions of individual stalls should not be less than:
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Tethered stall
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Untethered stall or cubicle
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Recessed
Trough
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Projecting
Trough
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Recessed
Trough
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Projecting
Trough
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Length
Width
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1.8 m
0.6 m
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2.0 m
0.6 m
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2.1 m
0.6 m
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2.3 m
0.6 m
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3. Sows usually tethered or kept in individual stalls should, if possible, periodically be allowed to move around outside their stall or pen.
4. If sows are kept together, measures shall be taken to prevent excessive fighting, and to enable each sow to feed without disturbance. If signs of severe fighting appear the animals shall be separated from each other.
5. Straw or other suitable material even in small amounts for the use of the dry sow is recommended.
6. In the design, construction, or reconstruction of dry sow accommodation, endeavours should be made to develop and apply husbandry systems which allow for the behavioural needs referred to in paragraph 1 to be met, particularly to develop housing systems where the sow is not tethered or otherwise closely confined in an individual stall and which avoid in the resting area slatted or perforated floors which could be harmful to the pigs.
III. SOWS DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD AND SOWS AND PIGLETS DURING THE SUCKLING PERIOD
1. The accommodation where sows and piglets are kept should enable the fulfilment of the special behavioural patterns of the sow before, during and after parturition, and those of the piglets after birth.
2. a. In farrowing systems where sows are kept in confinement during the perinatal period, the area available should be at least large enough to enable the sows to lie down, rest and get up normally. As a guideline this area should not be less than 2.1 m in length and 0.7 m in width and with at least 0.3 m free space behind the crate.
b. The system should enable satisfactory farrowing with or without assistance. The sow inside the crate and the piglets along both sides of the crate should have sufficient space for adequate suckling and sucking behaviour.
3. Farrowing quarters, where sows are kept loose, should have some means of protecting the piglets such as farrowing rails.
4. a. In farrowing pens the floors shall be designed, constructed and maintained to be smooth but not slippery and so as to cause no injuries to the pigs.
b. In the farrowing pen, the resting area of the piglets should be such as to enable all piglets to lie down together. The floor of this resting area should either be non-slatted or non-perforated, or adequately covered.
5. Sows should be settled into clean farrowing quarters at the appropriate time before the piglets are due to be born. When sows are to be closely confined they should be given sufficient time to adapt before farrowing.
6. Sows should be clean and, if necessary, treated for parasites before giving birth. Sows should be kept clean and dry during the parturition and suckling period by providing effective disposal of urine and faeces.
7. Sow and piglets should be kept, to the extent possible, in the same pen from farrowing to weaning.
8. Sows and piglets should have access to water at all times.
9. Straw or other suitable material should be available for the use and comfort of the sow and piglets unless similar results could be achieved by other suitable means.
10. The special demands of young piglets on micro-climate should be met by providing them, when necessary, with extra heat for their lying area or by satisfying these demands in another way, not detrimental for the sow.
11. Piglets should not be weaned from the sow at less than three weeks of age unless the welfare of the sow or piglets would be adversely affected.
12. In the design, construction or reconstruction of accommodation for sows and piglets, endeavours should be made to develop and apply husbandry systems which allow for the behavioural needs referred to in paragraph 1 to be met, particularly to develop housing systems where, as a general practice, the sow is not tethered or otherwise closely confined in a crate and which avoid in the resting area slatted or perforated floors, which could be harmful to the pigs.
IV. PIGLETS FROM WEANING TO ABOUT TEN WEEKS
1. The accommodation where piglets are kept should enable them to fulfil their special behavioural patterns.
2. The total floor area should be adequate for resting, feeding, dunging and exercising. As a guideline this area should not be less than 0.2 m2 for an average weight of the piglets of 20 kg or less; 0.3 m2 for an average weight of the piglets of 30 kg or less. Resting areas excluding exercise and dunging areas should be at least of sufficient size to accommodate all the piglets lying on their sides.
3. The floors shall be designed, constructed and maintained to be smooth but not slippery and so as to cause no injuries to the piglets.
4. When litters are mixed together, measures shall be taken to prevent excessive fighting. If signs of severe fighting appear, animals at risk or particular aggressors shall be removed.
5. Piglets should have access to water at all times.
6. Straw or other suitable material should be available for the use and comfort of the piglets, unless similar results could be achieved by other suitable means.
7. In the design, construction or reconstruction of accommodation for piglets, endeavours should be made to develop and apply husbandry systems which are likely to prevent injuries and allow for the behavioural needs referred to in paragraph 1 to be met, in particular by avoiding barren environments, too restricted areas, and slatted or perforated floors in the resting area.
V. PIGS FROM ABOUT TEN WEEKS TO SLAUGHTER OR SERVICE
1. The accommodation where pigs are kept should enable them to fulfil their special behavioural patterns.
2. The total floor area should be adequate for resting, feeding, dunging and exercising. As a guideline this area should not be less than 0.4 m2 for an average weight of the pigs of 50 kg or less; 0.65 m2 for an average weight of the pigs of 110 kg or less. Resting areas excluding exercise and dunging areas should be at least of sufficient size to accommodate all the pigs lying on their sides.
3. Accommodation shall be available to isolate pigs when necessary.
4. The floors shall be designed, constructed and maintained to be smooth but not slippery and so as to cause no injuries to the pigs.
5. Pigs should be kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible.
6. Pigs should have access to water normally at all times.
7. Straw or other suitable material should be available for the use and comfort of the pigs, unless similar results could be achieved by other suitable means.
8. In the design, construction or reconstruction of accommodation for pigs, endeavours should be made to develop and apply husbandry systems which are likely to prevent injuries and allow for the behavioural needs referred to paragraph 1 to be met, in particular by avoiding barren environments, too restricted areas, and slatted or perforated floors in the resting area, which could be harmful to the pigs.
