The food animals - Gracey's Meat Hygiene - page 12

Figure 1.12 Gloucester Old Spot sow and litter.

Figure 1.14 Large Black.

This legislation was incorporated into UK law by SI 2126
'The Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994. However,
the UK legislation not only implemented the European
Directive but added the abolition of stalls and tethers by
1 January 1999. Some of the other European countries
decided to address other aspects of production; for
example, in the Netherlands, fully slatted flooring sys-
tems were phased out by 2006.
The imposition of legislation on production inevitably
affects the way pigs are produced. European legislation
has been passed in an attempt to reduce the environmen-
tal impact of agriculture: Integrated Pollution Prevention
and Control Directive (IPPC Directive 96/61/EC) and
the Nitrates Directive (Directive 91/676/EEC). The IPPC
Directive aims to reduce all pollution emissions to air,

Figure 1.13 Saddleback.

probably limit further development since pig welfare can
be severely compromised if pigs are put on to sites where
the rainfall exceeds 750 mm/year and the land is not free
draining or relatively flat. In fact, much of the outdoor
rearing of pigs has now ceased in the United Kingdom
since farmers have discovered that the environmental
conditions were too severe and too difficult to manage.
European Council Directive 91/630/EEC set out
the 'minimum standards for the protection of pigs.