July 27, 2010

Australia's largest piggery starts phasing out sow stalls

Rivalea, Australia's largest piggery at Corowa in southern NSW, has already begun removing stalls for pregnant sows.

Managing director Paul Pattison says the owners made the decision in 2007 and are on track for 2014.

Pattison is a member of the board of Australian Pork Limited, which is currently discussing a voluntary ban of sow stalls with producers.

Rivalea has 45,000 sows and sells 15,500 pigs a week for slaughter.

Pattison says removing sow stalls and converting to group housing is a major investment.

"The cost to Rivalea is in the vicinity AUD16 million (US$14.4 million) to change what was a very effective management system for sows in dry sow crates to a group housing system, which, together with the cost of change, has more complicated management structures to manage that system."

Rivalea is a major supplier to Woolworths, and has been discussing the move to group housing for three years.