In 2018, 62% of Californian voters were in favor Prop 12, which bans the sale of meats from animals raised in certain types of “extreme confinement”. For pork products specifically, the new law increases the minimum size of a gestation crate from 14 sqft. to 24 sqft. The image above shows what a 14 sqft. gestation crate looks like. For pigs, gestation lasts about 4 months from breeding to birth, and for most sows this crate is where they will spend a large majority of their lives. The exceptions being when they are being bred and when they are giving birth, for which they are moved to an equally restrictive “farrowing crate” that allows piglets to access their milk.
“The crates are standard practice in the pork industry even though, according to a supreme court brief filed by 378 veterinarians and animal welfare scientists, they ‘cause profound, avoidable suffering and deprive pigs of a minimally acceptable level of welfare’.”
Currently this case is in the hands of the Supreme Court, where they are deciding whether or not California’s requirement puts an unreasonable burden on interstate trade. Unlike laws passed by other states which solely restrict the usage of gestation crates within their own borders, California’s legislation prevents the sale of ANY pork which was raised using these extreme confinement practices.
At Van Noble Farm, we have been breeding and farrowing pigs in open pens, fields, and deep hay bedding since 2012. Admittedly, I have had to learn a lot from my mistakes as a greenhorn. There have been times of anguish, loss, and deep frustration with myself, my facilities, and sometimes with Mother Earth for making it so difficult to sustain life at times. Like many species, pigs have litters of offspring and expect only some will survive. As producers our role is to minimize that loss of life and maintain the health of the mothers, while also managing the farm as a business… Thus breeding, birthing, and raising livestock is a relentless balancing act of ethics, values, and income. For many years and many litters, I have tried to manage births outside using hay bales for warmth and various assortments of lumber, tarps, and metal for shelter. I struggled with the tradeoff that while this was a better quality of life for the mothers and the herd: freedom of movement, soft beds, and open air— we often would lose piglets to crushing, suffocation in the hay, or due to exposure.
In the fall of 2022, we finally completed the construction of a professional farrowing barn with 3 sow pens each measuring 6ft x 10ft (60 sqft., compared to industry std. 14 sqft.) and 1 large “creep” area for piglets. This barn is well-insulated to allow for climate-control, and features a radiant heat concrete floor to negate the need for deep hay bedding. This design allows the sows to be comfortable right on the flat ground with a heavy rubber pad and a small amount of bedding, even through dire winter conditions! Our sows are moved into the farrowing barn at the end of gestation, about 2 weeks before birth, and then will be with their litters until about 8 weeks old. After weaning the sows move back outside into a breeding pen with a boar. We find that using this facility to support our cold-season farrowing makes great sense, but we will continue to be managing warm-season births on pasture because we still want the sows in our herd to enjoy as much outside time in their life as possible. But for us this is the best balance of health and profitability. We appreciate your support and we are proud to farm in a way that we feel balances the needs of the animals, ourselves, and the earth.
