Yesterday, The Crate Escape campaign, led by Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF), Humane Society International/UK and Compassion in World Farming, held a Parliamentary reception hosted by Mark Francois MP.

Dr. Steven McCulloch, head of research at the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, argues that the UK should ban the use of farrowing crates for pigs and the veterinary profession must provide its full support. Dr. Steven McCulloch is Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Studies at the Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Winchester. Steven qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Bristol University.

Today’s report shows the typical sow spends 22% of her adult breeding life confined in a tiny crate, given sows are crated one week prior to farrowing and sows produce around 2.3 litters per year. Many countries have outlawed this practice, but it is still used for 60% of UK herds (around 200,000 sows).

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed a Westminster Hall debate led by Matt Vickers MP on ‘Ending cages for farmed animals’.

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation welcomes this initiative to advance farm animal health and welfare. Defra is considering the case for introducing reforms, such as the use of farrowing crates for pigs and enriched cages for laying hens.” The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway- It supports farmers to transition to higher welfare practices and systems

“The Government shares the public’s high regard for animal welfare and we are currently examining the evidence around the use of cages for farm animals.”

“It gives me great pleasure to present the Pig Husbandry (Farrowing) Bill. The aim of the Bill is to prohibit the cruel and unnatural use of farrowing crates.”

There are 500,000 sows in the UK, 55% are caged. The crates severely restrict the sow’s movement and her strong instinct to build a nest before giving birth.