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Click to view all OUTDOOR PIGS

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

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Where to find help – at the end of each section we have indicated where you can get extra guidance if you need it.

Aim:

OUTDOOR PIGS

PG.OP.1

Standards

Appropriate accommodation must be available to pigs. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.OP.1.a

Pigs have access to a warm, dry, draught-free lying area.

PG.OP.1.b

Covered shelter is available to pigs to protect from weather.

PG.OP.2

Standards

Bedding material must be provided within accommodation to provide thermal comfort.

PG.OP.3

Standards

Stocking density for breeding animals must not exceed 30 adult pigs per hectare.

How you will be measured

PG.OP.3.a

Available paddock space is sufficient.

PG.OP.4

Standards

A training area must be used to allow new gilts, sows and boars to become accustomed to electric fences.

PG.OP.5

Standards

Facilities must be provided during warm weather to allow pigs to keep cool and minimise risk of sunburn.

PG.OP.6

Standards

Sows must be farrowed in appropriate farrowing accommodation. (Revised)

How you will be measured

PG.OP.6.a

Accommodation has features that enable a comfortable temperature to be maintained.

PG.OP.6.b

Sited on level ground (not excessively sloped or very uneven).

PG.OP.7

Standards

Fenders or similar are used to prevent very young piglets from straying. (Upgraded)

PG.OP.8

Standards

Measures must be in place to minimise disease transmission between batches.

How you will be measured

PG.OP.8.a

Farrowing arcs, tents, kennels and associated enclosing runs for growing pigs must be moved* to fresh land after each farrowing cycle or batch. *unless sited on a concrete base.

PG.OP.8.b

After weaning, used bedding from farrowing accommodation is removed/destroyed.

PG.OP.9

Standards

Injurious weeds (e.g. ragwort) which pigs may access must be controlled.

PG.OP.10

Standards

A documented Wild Animal* Control Plan is implemented to minimise wild animal access to pigs. (New)

How you will be measured

PG.OP.10.a

A plan is in place outlining the measures to be taken.

PG.OP.10.b

The plan is being implemented.

Wild Animal Control Plan

PG.OP.11

Standards

Where pigs are held in a collection area prior to transport it is managed appropriately. (New)

How you will be measured

PG.OP.11.a

Pigs have access to water.

PG.OP.11.b

Operated on an ‘All In All Out’ basis, cleaned and rested between batches.

PG.OP.12

Standards

The Food Standards Agency risk assessment tool for Trichinella is applied annually to relevant units to determine controlled housing status

How you will be measured

PG.OP.12.a

The designated vet completes the FSA Trichinella risk assessment tool at least annually and after any significant change to the unit

PG.OP.12.b

The designated vet indicates the unit's controlled housing status, informed by the results of the FSA risk assessment tool, via the relevant declaration on every QVR

QVRs for previous four quarters

  • OP.10 – *Wild animals include, but are not limited to, badgers, deer, feral pigs, foxes. The plan need only consider access by wild animals that are likely to be present in the area.
  • OP.12 – The FSA risk assessment tool must be applied to pig units that wish to be recognised as applying controlled housing conditions where pigs over five weeks of age (excluding breeding boars and sows which must be tested at slaughter for Trichinella) have outdoor access, i.e. where pigs over five weeks are not reared in fully enclosed indoor systems. Indoor units with natural ventilation are considered fully enclosed indoor units and therefore do not need to undergo the risk assessment. Units with outdoor access in Northern Ireland that have undergone, and have evidence of, a risk assessment by DAERA do not need to undergo the FSA risk assessment by their vet.