Farmers face jail if pigs don't get toys
Discussion
British farmers have 90 days to put a toy in every pigsty or face a £1,000 fine or three months in jail.
In a new EU ruling farmers have to supply an object to keep pigs happy and deter them from chewing each other.
The Times says the ruling becomes law in Britain next week.
Official instructions to farmers are to give pigs "environmental enrichment" by providing "manipulable material", which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs defined as balls.
A spokesman said: "We mean footballs and basketballs. Farmers may also need to change the balls so the pigs don't get tired with the same one.
These rules are based on good welfare. We don't want to come across as the nanny state, but the important thing is to see pigs happy in their environment and they like to forage with their noses."
The Government is not ready to recommend specific toys, however, because they know of no firm manufacturing playthings for pigs.
Mark White, past president of the Pig Veterinary Society, said: "Pigs have a habit of chewing each other and they do it in all environments and especially go for pigs' tails and ears. Animal welfarists have been arguing that we should not dock tails of pigs.
"They think if we provide pigs with things to relieve their boredom then they will not chew each other."
In a new EU ruling farmers have to supply an object to keep pigs happy and deter them from chewing each other.
The Times says the ruling becomes law in Britain next week.
Official instructions to farmers are to give pigs "environmental enrichment" by providing "manipulable material", which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs defined as balls.
A spokesman said: "We mean footballs and basketballs. Farmers may also need to change the balls so the pigs don't get tired with the same one.
These rules are based on good welfare. We don't want to come across as the nanny state, but the important thing is to see pigs happy in their environment and they like to forage with their noses."
The Government is not ready to recommend specific toys, however, because they know of no firm manufacturing playthings for pigs.
Mark White, past president of the Pig Veterinary Society, said: "Pigs have a habit of chewing each other and they do it in all environments and especially go for pigs' tails and ears. Animal welfarists have been arguing that we should not dock tails of pigs.
"They think if we provide pigs with things to relieve their boredom then they will not chew each other."
Fantastic!
I can just imagine a load of piggies picking teams for 5-a-side, than suing the EU for mental trauma if they get picked last, next thing will be to provide them with protective equipment such as helmets and shin pads so they don't hurt themselves.
In my limited experience of all things porcine, I've found that left to their own devices pigs will invariably make their own entertainment just like they used to in the old days, things like making little pigs and participating in great sandwiches.
Dave
(No relation
)
I can just imagine a load of piggies picking teams for 5-a-side, than suing the EU for mental trauma if they get picked last, next thing will be to provide them with protective equipment such as helmets and shin pads so they don't hurt themselves.
In my limited experience of all things porcine, I've found that left to their own devices pigs will invariably make their own entertainment just like they used to in the old days, things like making little pigs and participating in great sandwiches.
Dave
(No relation
)
THis is all good news... it adds to the image of ridiculousness that the EU needs to shake of if the British people are to be in favour of the Euro in a referendum..
and it occupies the daft buggers on trivia rather than really shafting us all which is what they'd be doing otherwise..
Have to say, when I heard the farmer interviewed on R4 this morning I had to chuckle
and it occupies the daft buggers on trivia rather than really shafting us all which is what they'd be doing otherwise..
Have to say, when I heard the farmer interviewed on R4 this morning I had to chuckle
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