Dr Michael Morris - Animal welfare writer Dr Michael Morris has a PhD in zoology from the University of Auckland. He is presently teaching degree courses in environmental management at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is calling for submissions on the draft pig code of welfare. These close on April 16, and represent a chance for the public to help close down sow stalls and farrowing crates in New Zealand.

Most people will probably remember the sow stalls shown on television, and the bored, frustrated and scab-marked sows, being literally driven insane in these cramped and barren cages. Recent research has confirmed that animals demonstrating bar biting and other 'stereotype” behaviour associated with pigs in stalls, show strong similarities with humans suffering from schizophrenia.

The barren farrowing crates are no better. As well as the inevitable physical pain through cramp and the psychological torture of boredom, the sow is also deprived of the natural instinct to build nests for her piglets. In some systems the sows move from sows stall to farrowing crate and back again for six years or more.

The industry and some government officials continue to insist that stalls are necessary to prevent aggression. But sows are no different from humans in that their aggression shows through when their living conditions are substandard. Aggression and bullying in sows (as in humans) can be reduced or eliminated by providing decent satisfying food, spacious living conditions, an enriched environment and a clean space with a separate dunging area. Sow stalls are banned in many European countries, and many New Zealand farmers also don't use them. There is no indication that these farmers are unable to control aggression.

The industry and government also continue to buy into the myth that farrowing crates are necessary to stop sows crushing their own piglets. John Hellstrom, chair of NAWAC, even states that 'no alternative that still provides protection for the piglets while allowing the sow more freedom to move around has yet been found anywhere in the world”. His ignorance is staggering. In Denmark, where farrowing crates are still allowed, piglet mortality is no lower than it is in Sweden, where they are banned. Recent studies from Switzerland, where farrowing crates have been banned since 2007, also show that keeping sows in roomy pens does not cause any more piglet death than the farrowing crates.

The truth is that the industry and government are not concerned with animal welfare. Their supposed concern over preventing aggression is empty words. If they really wanted to protect sows from bullying each other they would not mix adult sows that do not know each other in the same pen, since this is a sure cause of aggression. Piggery operators and government officials want to keep sow stalls and farrowing crates going for one reason only; it is a far cheaper way to keep pigs, which saves on land and staffing costs as it requires no skill in animal husbandry.

Nevertheless, public pressure is starting to have an effect on NAWAC and they are even considering a ban on sow stalls in the draft code. However, NAWAC are easily bullied by industry pressure, so the pigs really need support from members of the public to help stiffen NAWAC's half hearted resolve.

Those who want to make their views known can make an online submission through the SAFE website (www.lovepigs.org.nz). Alternatively you can send a submission to either Minister of Agriculture David Carter or Prime Minister John Key at Parliament Buildings, Wellington (no stamp required). This is an effective way to put pressure on the government, but you will need to remember to ask them to forward the submission to NAWAC. You can also make a submission direct to NAWAC, either by email at [email protected] or by post.