Sow stalls ban may cost New Zealand US$36 million

The New Zealand Pork Industry Board (PIB) said if pig farmers are forced to give up stalls and crates in the next few years, it would cost the country NZ$50 million (US$36.06 million) a year.

A new pig welfare code recommends banning the use of sow stalls and farrowing crates by 2017.

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is currently considering 300-hundred submissions received on the draft code, before deciding on a final version to recommend to the Minister of Agriculture.

The PIB's chief executive Sam McIvor said that according to reports, consultants have found that if a ban was enforced by 2017, it would see 14% of pig farmers leave the industry.

McIvor said pig farmers are committed to phasing out stalls and crates, but he added they do not want to be given a time limit.