Hi, Josiah. No, Proposition 12 is only directed at gestation crates. I think there is a consensus that farrowing crates are humane in the sense that they save the lives of piglets. I am not an expert on Niman, but I know its producers do not use gestation crates. Thanks for forwarding the article--I don't know what IFT will make of it! Thanks again for your questions, and your interest!
Can't wait to see you tackle the distinctions regarding pasture-raised chickens, free range chickens, vegetarian-fed chickens (whatever that means) and all those other labels we see in the store! How many square feet of space does it really take for a chicken to be considered humanely treated? Again a place of great ignorance for those of us not in the industry.
Not to be too flippant, but I do worry about labels which could be read to mean that poultry eat vegetarians!
Thank you Cheryl. Once again, your column hits the nail on the head. When farmers were held captive to vertical integration in the 1990s, the banks were complicit in requiring contracts in order to acquire the loans needed to farm. Many farm families believed that the only way to stay in farming was to comply.
One aspect of this which puzzles me, as an ignorant pasture/cattle person. Your article states that Niman Ranch hog raising involves more humane space for the sows....."Its producers use genetic selection and increased space for feed and water to manage the undesirable behaviors of sows in group housing, including aggression." I keep wondering what the death loss is for the piglets in conventional v. "enlightened/modified" sow space methods. I just know how large those mamas are, and how tiny their babies are. Are there studies of that issue which you have run across?
The gestation crates cited in Proposition 12 are used prior to the sows farrowing their litters. Sows are moved after giving birth into farrowing crates--somewhat larger units with bars that help to prevent the sow from crushing the pigs. The farrowing crates are more protective of the piglets, preventing death loss. Does this answer your question, or did I miss the point? I have read that there’s a 6-8% mortality rate in farrowing crates for piglets, and it could be as much as three times this in an open farrowing space. I can check a little more to confirm these percentages, if needed. Thanks!
Very interesting distinction between the gestation crates and the farrowing crates. That is a point I had missed entirely. I wonder whether Prop. 12 dealt with the farrowing crate size at all. Apparently not. Niman Ranch must have specs for both types of crates, no?
So much that I have no clue about regarding pork!
P.S. I forwarded your article to Jeff DeYoung who is or was the livestock editor for Iowa Farmer Today and lives near us in Malvern, Iowa.
Joshia, would you please send a link to Cheyl's column to those who might have an interest? We are growing mostly by word of mouth, so anything you can do to let readers know about this level of content is appreciated. Cheryl has an extraordinary voice on these issues.
Hi, Josiah. No, Proposition 12 is only directed at gestation crates. I think there is a consensus that farrowing crates are humane in the sense that they save the lives of piglets. I am not an expert on Niman, but I know its producers do not use gestation crates. Thanks for forwarding the article--I don't know what IFT will make of it! Thanks again for your questions, and your interest!
Can't wait to see you tackle the distinctions regarding pasture-raised chickens, free range chickens, vegetarian-fed chickens (whatever that means) and all those other labels we see in the store! How many square feet of space does it really take for a chicken to be considered humanely treated? Again a place of great ignorance for those of us not in the industry.
Not to be too flippant, but I do worry about labels which could be read to mean that poultry eat vegetarians!
Ha! I'd have to do a little research. My personal experience doesn't overlap so much. But
it is another humane trend that is important to many!
Great explanation. I believe the pens were about 35 square feet on the farm on which I grew up, so 24 square feet seems very reasonable to me.
Thanks, John. Yes, it can be done, although it will require a different mindset.
Cheryl this is excellent reporting! Thanks for covering this in such depth and for bringing so much knowledge to the table.
Thank you Cheryl. Once again, your column hits the nail on the head. When farmers were held captive to vertical integration in the 1990s, the banks were complicit in requiring contracts in order to acquire the loans needed to farm. Many farm families believed that the only way to stay in farming was to comply.
Thanks, Denise. You make an excellent point--thanks for adding it to the discussion!
Cheryl,
One aspect of this which puzzles me, as an ignorant pasture/cattle person. Your article states that Niman Ranch hog raising involves more humane space for the sows....."Its producers use genetic selection and increased space for feed and water to manage the undesirable behaviors of sows in group housing, including aggression." I keep wondering what the death loss is for the piglets in conventional v. "enlightened/modified" sow space methods. I just know how large those mamas are, and how tiny their babies are. Are there studies of that issue which you have run across?
Again, I really appreciate your article.
Hi, Josiah,
The gestation crates cited in Proposition 12 are used prior to the sows farrowing their litters. Sows are moved after giving birth into farrowing crates--somewhat larger units with bars that help to prevent the sow from crushing the pigs. The farrowing crates are more protective of the piglets, preventing death loss. Does this answer your question, or did I miss the point? I have read that there’s a 6-8% mortality rate in farrowing crates for piglets, and it could be as much as three times this in an open farrowing space. I can check a little more to confirm these percentages, if needed. Thanks!
Very interesting distinction between the gestation crates and the farrowing crates. That is a point I had missed entirely. I wonder whether Prop. 12 dealt with the farrowing crate size at all. Apparently not. Niman Ranch must have specs for both types of crates, no?
So much that I have no clue about regarding pork!
P.S. I forwarded your article to Jeff DeYoung who is or was the livestock editor for Iowa Farmer Today and lives near us in Malvern, Iowa.
Joshia, would you please send a link to Cheyl's column to those who might have an interest? We are growing mostly by word of mouth, so anything you can do to let readers know about this level of content is appreciated. Cheryl has an extraordinary voice on these issues.
sure--- It should be in Iowa Farmer Today. Are you familiar with that publication?
Do you subscribe to her Substack column? That's what I wasn't encouraging you to share.
I don’t yet subscribe to Cheryl’s column. I shared a link to the article. I’m not sure what you are asking.
Very informative and thorough… thanks!