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
