Animal Welfare (Pigs) Regulations 2025

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.

A person who keeps a sow must not, during a gestational cycle of the sow, keep that sow in a farrowing crate – 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:the expiry of the 42-day period; the weaning of all the piglets in the litter; or 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:the expiry of the 56-day period; the weaning of all the piglets in the litter being fostered. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

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. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

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. In the case of – a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; or a natural person, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.