Australian pork producer SunPork has unveiled an animal welfare breakthrough with the launch of a new patented ‘maternity ring’ to eliminate farrowing crates.
Developed through extensive research and development over the last ten years, the ring is a single suspended oval-shaped hoop which allows sows a greater freedom of movement to support natural nesting behaviour and socialising between sows, while limiting the potential for rolling, which can risk injuring piglets.
SunPork intends to gradually transition its entire operations to be 100% crate- and stall-free through the introduction of the new maternity ring, its current work to remove mating stalls, and its previous removal of all gestation stalls. It’s also sharing the blueprint and evidence for the maternity rings with the broader pork industry to support improved sow welfare across Australia.
“By adopting this proactive innovation, the Australian pork industry can lead the world in pig welfare – noting this is one of very few solutions for elimination of close-confinement that benefits the sow, the piglet, the pork producer and the consumer simultaneously,” said Dr Robert van Barneveld, CEO of SunPork Group.
Strategic partnership with Woolworths
SunPork is Woolworths’ largest pork supplier by volume, and Woolworths’ partnership on this new innovation will see the first 100% crate-free, cage-free and stall-free fresh pork enter Woolworths’ supply chain. Under this strategic partnership, SunPork’s entire supply to Woolworths will transition to crate-, cage- and stall-free in the years ahead.
“We’re thrilled to see SunPork bring this innovation to market, and we’d love to see similar solutions used more broadly across the industry in future to improve the lives of all pigs,” said Anna Speer, Managing Director of Woolworths Group’s red meat business, Greenstock.
“Animal welfare is not only crucial to our business, but our customers rightly expect that the animals in our supply chain have the best possible lives we can give them, in partnership with our suppliers.”
Adoption and rollout
As a result of the science-based welfare benefits delivered by Sunpork’s maternity ring, RSPCA Australia has expressed its support for the technology to replace farrowing crates.
SunPork has engaged Stockyard Industries in Queensland to manufacture and sell the maternity rings to other pork producers.
It intends to support training and development for those interested in implementing the technology, including through the University of Adelaide Roseworthy piggery, which is operated by SunPork.