Pigs

CODE UNDER REVISION

The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs was released in 2014. The pig Code’s 5-year review was initiated in 2019. A detailed report about this review, along with information about an effort to amend the pig Code, can be found here. An update to the pig Code was initiated in 2024.

An important preliminary step in the Code update process is to invite all interested stakeholders to submit their top-of-mind thoughts on the welfare of pigs. Please provide us with your top-of-mind welfare topics for pigs via this link.

Code update timeline:

  • Start: September 2024
  • Top of mind survey: May 15 to June 4, 2025
  • Public comment period: Fall 2026 / Winter 2027 
  • Projected completion: March 2028

Timeline for all Codes of Practice being amended or updated.

Current Code of Practice (2014) and related resources are below.

Committees

Code Committee members

The Code Committee is populated in accordance with Step 1 of NFACC’s Code development process. 

RoleCommittee MemberOrganization
Producer representativeBrent Moen  (Chair)Canadian Pork Council 
 Yvan FréchetteCanadian Pork Council
 James ReesorCanadian Pork Council
 Jonathan SawatzkyCanadian Pork Council
 Dickson GouldCanadian Pork Council
Federal government Anne AllenCanadian Food Inspection Agency
Federal government Angela RouillardAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada 
Animal welfare advocacy associationAbby TillotsonHumane Canada
Provincial animal protection enforcement authorityCarly AtrooshiOntario Ministry of the Attorney General

Provincial government representative with responsibilities in animal welfare

Robyn Harte 

Manitoba Agriculture

Retail and food service organizationAlexandra LeclercRetail Council of Canada
Processor Tony MillingtonCanadian Meat Council
TransporterBill RempelSteve's Livestock Transport
VeterinarianKarine TalbotCanadian Veterinary Medical Association 
Technical expertiseEgan BrockhoffCPC Veterinary Counsel
Researcher/academicTBDScientific Committee Chair

Scientific Panel Members

NameNamed by
Yoland Seddon, PhD Canadian Society of Animal Science (and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)
Terri O'Sullivan, DVM, PhD, MACanadian Veterinary Medical Association
Patricia Turner, DVM, DVSc, DACLAM, DABT, DECAWBM (AWSEL)Canadian Veterinary Medical Association                                     
Luigi Faucitano, PhDCanadian Society of Animal Science
Jen-Yun Chou, PhDInternational Society of Applied Ethology
Clover Bench, PhDInternational Society of Applied Ethology

There are various ways to view the Code:

There are a limited number of hard copies of this Code. NFACC encourages use of the electronic version and does not store hard copies. If hard copies are required, please contact the Canadian Pork Council.

Please note that content in the transportation section of this Code, along with additional transportation-related content (e.g., glossary terms) that had referenced or reflected the outdated version of Part XII (Transport of Animals) in the Health of Animal Regulations (HAR), or the now archived Compromised Animals Policy, has been updated to align with the amended regulations, which took effect on February 20, 2020. Hard copies of the Codes that were printed prior to this alignment will not include these updates. For clarity, Codes that have been updated will include a statement on the front cover that reads “Alignment with Part XII (Transport of Animals) of the Health of Animals Regulations: 2021”.

This update process was strictly aimed at revising existing text that no longer aligned with the amended HAR. Every effort was made to respect the original priorities and decisions of the Code Development Committee (e.g., text from the HAR was not added if it was not covered in the original Code). In case of a discrepancy between the hard copy and online version of a Code, the online version shall take precedence.

Other resources


Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Glossary
Section 1 Housing and Handling Facilities
Section 2 Feed and Water
Section 3 Animal Health
Section 4 Husbandry Practices
Section 5 Transportation
Section 6 Euthanasia
References
Appendices:
 Appendix A - Guidelines for Determining Individual Stall Sizes for Gestating Gilts and Sows
 Appendix B - Recommended Minimum Floor Space Allowances for Gilts and Sows in Group Housing
 Appendix C - Floor Space Allowances for Weaned/Nursery Pigs
 Appendix D - Floor Space Allowances for Grower/Finisher Pigs
 Appendix E - Recommended Minimum Space Allowances for Boars
 Appendix F - Feeder Design
 Appendix G - Water Intake, Recommended Flow Rate and Height of Nipple Drinkers
 Appendix H - The Six Ss: Simple Criteria for Choosing Enrichment for Pigs
 Appendix I - Sow Body Condition Scoring System
 Appendix J - Example of Decision Tree for Euthanasia
 Appendix K - Pig Vision and Flight Zone
 Appendix L - “Should this Pig be Loaded?” Decision Tree
 Appendix M - Temperature - Humidity Index Table
 Appendix N - Methods of Euthanasia
 Appendix O - Resources for Further Information
 Appendix P - Participants
 Appendix Q - Summary of Code Requirements

« Back