Day 088 - 13 Feb 95 - Page 57


     
     1        construction that is about that high to keep the little
     2        pigs in for a little while so they can also establish
     3        themselves in there.  The sows will go in those paddocks
     4        about one week before farrowing, so they can start choosing
     5        themselves earlier.  Then they have the freedom to come
     6        out, the sows do, and the little pigs will be left in the
     7        ark to start with and then you move the fender out and they
     8        run about on the field.
     9
    10   Q.   So they do come out of the ark and move around when it
    11        pleases them?
    12        A.  Yes.  If one looks at this brochure, just behind the
    13        sow you will see a fender where the little pigs have been
    14        confined to but they have now moved it so they can now come
    15        out in the field.
    16
    17   Q.   How many in a environment/index.html">litter, just a pretty average environment/index.html">litter?
    18        A.  An average environment/index.html">litter is born about 11.5 to 12 and you will
    19        get a high mortality rate with the pigs outside than you do
    20        with the pigs indoors.
    21
    22   MS. STEEL:   I think you said that you have been introducing the
    23        outdoor methods, or something, to other farms and what have
    24        you; is that right?  That might not be quite how you
    25        described it?
    26        A.  No, I will try to explain it to you, Miss.  Outdoor pig
    27        production in East Anglia has been common for many, many
    28        years.  There are some outdoor pig production systems that
    29        are better than others.  There is some land that is totally
    30        unsuitable and one has to be very careful on what type of
    31        land you choose to put your pigs on to get the best results
    32        and for the good of the pig.  Thus, over the years we have
    33        developed a system that we have introduced to many of our
    34        suppliers and they have followed our lead because we have
    35        to market the product and there are improvements gradually
    36        taking place over the years.
    37             There was a time in the 60s and 70s when many pigs
    38        went inside but now there is a move where more and more
    39        pigs are coming outside and I am pleased to say that we are
    40        having more people now following the Freedom Food Scheme,
    41        the RSPCA Scheme.
    42
    43   Q.   So say 10 years ago, were most of the pigs still inside or
    44        were they outside by then?
    45        A.  Are you talking about nationally?
    46
    47   Q.   On the farms supplying you?
    48        A.  I would have said 10 years ago most of the pigs were
    49        inside.
    50 
    51   Q.   What 90 per cent, 80 per cent or what? 
    52        A.  I cannot remember that far back. I would only be 
    53        guessing and that would be quite unfair to do that.
    54
    55   Q.   What about your company farms?
    56        A.  Our company farms?
    57
    58   Q.   Yes.
    59        A.  We had pigs outside in the 40s, the 50s, the 60s, then
    60        we went all inside in the 70s and, as you can see with the

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