EDINBURGH—New polling commissioned by leading animal protection organisation Humane World for Animals UK (formerly called Humane Society International UK) and conducted by The Diffley Partnership reveals that an overwhelming majority—84%—of the Scottish public reject the use of farrowing crates for mother pigs.
The poll informed participants that a farrowing crate is a metal enclosure used in pig farming to restrict the movement of a mother pig for up to five weeks around the time her piglets are born. The crates prevent sows from turning around and limit interactions with their piglets.
Participants in the poll were provided with an explanation of the intended purpose of this confinement: “The crates are used as a method by some farmers to reduce the risk of mother pigs accidentally crushing newborn piglets. Other farmers use farrowing pens, rather than crates, that allow for greater freedom of movement and nesting for the pig, while still minimising the risk of piglets being crushed.”
Based on that information, 58% of respondents felt that crates should be banned immediately, and a further 26% said they should be phased out within five years. Only 6% supported the continued use of these crates.
Support was highest among 16- to 34-year-olds, with 88% of respondents in that age group in favour of a ban. Support for banning or phasing out crates was at similar levels for rural (86%) and urban (84%) respondents.
In 2021, the Scottish Government committed to consult on a phase out of farrowing crates but have not yet delivered on this pledge.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK, said: “Mother pigs locked up in farrowing crates endure the most restrictive confinement of any farmed animals in the UK, and these intelligent and sensitive animals very clearly suffer physically and mentally. There is no social licence for this caged cruelty to continue, so we urge the Scottish Government to bring forward the promised consultation and support farmers on a swift pathway to crate-free farming.”
The poll also established that over half of respondents (54%) would be willing to pay more for crate-free pork, with 20% stating that they would be willing to pay a lot more for it. Overall, 71% of respondents indicated a preference for buying crate-free pork products.
The poll results were shared at a Parliamentary event hosted by Humane World for Animals UK and OneKind at the Scottish Parliament on 23rd January. The event, attended by members from all the main political parties, highlighted concerns about the continued use of farrowing crates. Among those attending were Conservative member Finlay Carson MSP, convener of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee; leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP; and Scottish Greens animal welfare spokesperson Ariane Burgess MSP.
Over 200,000 mother pigs on UK farms are forced to spend around a quarter of their lives in the extreme confinement of farrowing crates. Living in such severely restrictive conditions causes the animals mental distress and physical wounds, such as from repeated rubbing against the metal bars of the crates, are also common.
Humane World for Animals UK is part of The Crate Escape coalition, working with charities including OneKind to educate policymakers and the public on the cruelty of farrowing crates. The coalition works with politicians, researchers and farmers with an aim to secure agreement on a pathway to eliminating crates as soon as possible.
ENDS
Note:
The survey was designed by The Diffley Partnership and invitations were issued online using the ScotPulse panel. Results based on a survey of 1,229 respondents (nationally representative), with fieldwork taking place between January 14 and January 17, 2025. Results are weighted by gender and age to adult population estimates from 2021.
- Sally Ivens