Animal Welfare

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (1088, 1089)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

1103 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legal position with regard to tail docking of young pigs in the pig industry; if figures are available for the number of pigs that had their tails docked in recent years; the current legal position with regard to teeth clipping of young pigs in the pig industry; if figures are available for the number of pigs that had their teeth clipped in recent years; his view on the ethics of these practices, specifically from an animal welfare point of view. [18402/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The legal position on tail docking and tooth clipping of pigs is set out in the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations 2010, S.I. No. 311 of 2010 which states that tail docking or tooth clipping should not be carried out routinely except where injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred. Where tooth clipping appears necessary, this shall be carried out within seven days of birth. My Department does not retain figures on number of pigs that have been tail docked or have had their teeth clipped.

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

1104 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the practice of hormone injection of sows in order to bring forward the cycle of the sow in order that she will be ready to be artificially inseminated three weeks after weaning is common throughout the pig industry; his view on the ethics of this practice, particularly from an animal welfare point of view. [18403/12]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The practice of hormone injection of sows in order to bring forward the cycle of the sow is not common throughout the pig industry. These treatments, when used, are an aid to fertility, and as such do not give rise to any ethical or welfare issues. Furthermore, the increased cost of hormone treatment has resulted in a decline in such treatments.