Statutory Instruments of the Scottish Parliament

"boar" means a male pig after puberty, intended for breeding;

"gilt" means a female pig intended for breeding after puberty and before farrowing;

"piglet" means a pig from birth to weaning;

"rearing pig" means a pig from the age of ten weeks to slaughter or service;

"sow" means a female pig after the first farrowing; and

"weaner" means a pig from weaning to the age of ten weeks.

(a) stand up, lie down and rest without difficulty;

(b) have a clean, comfortable and adequately drained place in which it can rest;

(c) see other pigs, unless the pig is isolated for veterinary reasons;

(d) maintain a comfortable temperature; and

(e) have enough space to allow all the animals to lie down at the same time.

     7.  - (1) The dimension of any stall or pen used for holding individual pigs in accordance with these Regulations shall be such that the internal area is not less than the square of the length of the pig, and no internal side is less than 75% of the length of the pig, the length of the pig in each case being measured from the tip of its snout to the base of its tail while it is standing with its back straight.

    (2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply to a female pig for the period between seven days before the predicted day of its farrowing and the day on which the weaning of its piglets (including any piglets fostered by it) is complete.

    (3) A person shall not be guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a pig in a stall or pen-

(a) while it is undergoing any examination, test, treatment or operation carried out for veterinary purposes;

(b) for the purposes of service, artificial insemination or collection of semen;

(c) while it is fed on any particular occasion;

(d) for the purposes of marking, washing or weighing it;

(e) while its accommodation is being cleaned; or

(f) while it is awaiting loading for transportation,

provided that the period during which it is so kept is not longer than necessary for that purpose.

    (4) A person shall not be guilty of an offence in accordance with regulation 13(1) of contravening or failing to comply with this paragraph by reason of the keeping of a pig in a stall or pen which the pig can enter or leave at will, provided that the stall or pen is entered from a stall or pen in which the pig is kept without contravention of this paragraph.

Artificially lit buildings
     8. Where pigs are kept in an artificially lit building then lighting with an intensity of at least 40 lux shall be provided for a minimum period of 8 hours per day subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1.

Prevention of fighting
     9.  - (1) If pigs are kept together, measures shall be taken to prevent fighting which goes beyond normal behaviour.

    (2) Pigs which show persistent aggression towards others or are victims of such aggression shall be isolated or kept separate from the group.

Cleaning and disinfection
     10.  - (1) Housing, pens, equipment and utensils used for pigs must be properly cleaned and disinfected as necessary to prevent cross-infection and the build-up of disease-carrying organisms.

    (2) Faeces, urine and uneaten or spilt food must be removed as often as necessary to minimise smell and avoid attracting flies or rodents.

Bedding
     11. Where bedding is provided, this must be clean, dry and not harmful to the pigs.

Floors
     12. Where pigs are kept in a building, floors shall-

(a) be smooth but not slippery so as to prevent injury to the pigs;

(b) be so designed, constructed and maintained as not to cause injury or suffering to pigs standing or lying on them;

(c) be suitable for the size and weight of the pigs; and

(d) where no litter is provided, form a rigid, even and stable surface.

     13. When concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups-

(a) the maximum width of the openings between the slats must be-


(i) 11 mm for piglets;

(ii) 14 mm for weaners;

(iii) 18 mm for rearing pigs;

(iv) 20 mm for gilts after service and sows; and



(b) the minimum width of the slats must be-



(i) 50 mm for piglets and weaners;

(ii) 80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service and sows.

Feeding
     14.  - (1) All pigs must be fed at least once a day.

    (2) Where pigs are housed in a group and do not have continuous access to feed, or are not fed by an automatic feeding system for feeding the animals individually, each pig must have access to the food at the same time as the others in the feeding group.

Drinking water
     15. All pigs over two weeks of age must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of fresh drinking water.

Environmental enrichment
     16. To enable proper investigation and manipulation activities, all pigs must have permanent access to a sufficient quantity of material such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such, which does not adversely affect the health of the animals.

Prohibition on the use of the sweat-box system
     17. Pigs shall not be kept in an environment which involves maintaining high temperatures and high humidity (known as the "sweat-box system").

Noise levels
     18.  - (1) Pigs shall not be exposed to constant or sudden noise.

    (2) Noise levels above 85 dBA shall be avoided in that part of any building where pigs are kept.

Interventions
     19. Save as set out in paragraphs 21 to 26, no intervention procedures which result in damage to or loss of a sensitive part of the body or the alteration of bone structure shall be carried out except for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

     20. The procedures set out in paragraphs 21 to 26 may only be carried out under hygienic conditions by a veterinary surgeon, or, where it is legally permitted, by a person who has been trained in accordance with these Regulations and who is experienced in performing the procedures.

     21. The following procedures shall not be carried out routinely but only where there is evidence that injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred:-

(a) uniform reduction of corner teeth of piglets by grinding or clipping not later than the seventh day of life of the piglets leaving an intact smooth surface;

(b) docking of a part of the tail,

(a) placed in groups as soon as possible after weaning; and

(b) kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible.

     49.  - (1) If weaners and rearing pigs unfamiliar with one another have to be mixed, this should be done at as young an age as possible, preferably before or up to one week after weaning.

    (2) When weaners and rearing pigs are mixed they shall be provided with adequate opportunities to escape and hide from other pigs.

     50. The use of tranquillising medication in order to facilitate the mixing of weaners and rearing pigs shall be limited to exceptional conditions and only after consultation with a veterinary surgeon.

     51. When signs of severe fighting appear among weaners and rearing pigs, the causes shall be immediately investigated and appropriate measures shall be taken.

     52. The unobstructed floor area available to each weaner or rearing pig reared in a group shall be at least-

(a) 0.15 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is 10 kg or less;

(b) 0.20 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 10 kg but less than or equal to 20 kg;

(c) 0.30 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 20 kg but less than or equal to 30 kg;

(d) 0.40 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 30 kg but less than or equal to 50 kg;

(e) 0.55 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 50 kg but less than or equal to 85 kg;

(f) 0.65 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 85 kg but less than or equal to 110 kg; and

(g) 1.00 m² for each animal where the average weight of the animals in the group is more than 110 kg.".