28Confinement of sows to farrowing crates restricted

28 Confinement of sows to farrowing crates restricted

(1)  In this regulation –

emergency fostering means the fostering by a sow of another set of piglets, soon after she has raised her own, that is required due to the death or incapacity of another sow;

gestational cycle, of a sow, means the period commencing at the time when the sow is mated and ending immediately before the sow is mated again after the sow's piglets have been weaned.

(2)  A person who keeps a sow must not, during a gestational cycle of the sow, keep that sow in a farrowing crate – 

(a) if the sow is not providing emergency fostering, for more than the 42-day period that commences when the sow is confined in anticipation of farrowing and ends when whichever of the following occurs first:

(i) the expiry of the 42-day period;

(ii) the weaning of all the piglets in the litter; or

(b) if the sow is providing emergency fostering, for more than the 56-day period that commences when the sow is confined in anticipation of farrowing her own litter and ends when whichever of the following occurs first:

(i) the expiry of the 56-day period;

(ii) the weaning of all the piglets in the litter being fostered.

Penalty:  In the case of –

(a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or

(b) a natural person, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

(3)  A person who keeps a sow must not, during a gestational cycle of the sow, require the sow to provide emergency fostering for more than one additional litter.

Penalty:  In the case of –

(a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or

(b) a natural person, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

(4)  A person who keeps a sow that is providing emergency fostering must ensure that the sow is provided with additional care and attention, increased nutrition and a higher level of supervision, to ensure that the sow maintains good health for the duration of the emergency fostering.