Pigs Standards

Home > Standards > Pigs Standards > FEED AND WATER

FEED AND WATER Version 5.1 (modified)

Click to view

PG.FW.1 PG.FW.2 PG.FW.2.1 PG.FW.3 PG.FW.3.1 PG.FW.3.2 PG.FW.4 PG.FW.4.1 PG.FW.4.2 PG.FW.4.3 PG.FW.5 PG.FW.6 PG.FW.7 PG.FW.8 PG.FW.9 PG.FW.10 PG.FW.11 PG.FW.12

Glossary

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

This icon indicates that a record is required.

AIM: All livestock receive a daily diet sufficient to maintain full health

PG.FW.1 Key

Livestock must be provided with sufficient feed

How you will be measured

PG.FW.1.a

The diet is adequate and suitable for the production status and body condition of the animal, especially pregnant animals which need a high fibre diet to satisfy their appetite

PG.FW.1.b

Any sows of very poor body condition (e.g. BCS of 2 or less, see Appendix) have been identified and are receiving additional attention

PG.FW.2

Feed must be presented in a way that minimises stress and aggression

How you will be measured

PG.FW.2.a

Where pigs are not fed ad-lib (food delivery is intermittent or rationed) and they are fed as a group, at least 30cm trough space is provided per pig for pigs over 40kg liveweight so that all pigs can feed at the same time without interference from others

PG.FW.2.b

Where pigs are fed ad-lib sufficient feeder space is provided such that there is no evidence of competition at the feeder, e.g. injurious behaviour

PG.FW.2.1

Feeders and drinkers must be checked daily to ensure they are working and clean

PG.FW.3 Key

All livestock must be provided with adequate access to a supply of fresh, clean drinking water

How you will be measured

PG.FW.3.a

The following access to drinkers is provided: - For dry feeding systems − nipples/mini bowls: 1 per 15 pigs (ad lib) or 1 per 10 pigs (restrict fed) − bowls*: 1 per 30 pigs (ad lib) or 1 per 20 pigs (restrict fed) - For wet and dry feeding systems − a total of at least 1 drinker point per 15 pigs − of which at least 1 drinker point per 30 pigs is provided as a separate water source from the wet and dry feeder - For wet feeding systems − in addition to the water provided in the wet feed, at least 1 drinker point per 30 pigs is provided as a separate water source from the wet feeder - For water troughs, the length of the trough exceeds the following − pigs <15kg: 0.8cm per pig − pigs 15-35kg: 1.0cm per pig − pigs >35kg: 1.2cm per pig

PG.FW.3.b

Flow rate is adequate and water pressure is appropriate for the class of pig

PG.FW.3.c

Troughs/drinkers are suitably located and at an appropriate height for the class of pig

PG.FW.3.d

Provision is made to ensure an emergency supply of suitable drinking water can be supplied if normal supplies were to fail

PG.FW.3.1

All pigs over 2 weeks of age must have permanent access to water

How you will be measured

PG.FW.3.1.a

On outdoor units where water is not provided in the farrowing arc, a documented plan is in place detailing how water will be provided on occasions when the sow’s milk may not satisfy unweaned piglets’ water requirements, e.g. hot weather or sow/piglet illness

Documented Water Provision Plan for outdoor piglets

PG.FW.3.2

Water quality must be appropriate

How you will be measured

PG.FW.3.2.a

If using non-mains water, the water is independently tested annually as close to the source as possible for total viable count (TVC) and coliform levels

PG.FW.3.2.b

Where a water test indicates: - coliform levels are >100 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100ml - TVC levels are >1000 CFU per ml there is evidence of action taken to investigate and address bacterial contamination

Non-mains water test results

AIM: Animal feed is suitable and traceable

PG.FW.4 Key

Feed must be suitable

How you will be measured

PG.FW.4.a

Feed is not stale or contaminated

PG.FW.4.b

Only feed materials and additives permitted by the Scheme and UK law are used

PG.FW.4.c

The composition of all purchased and home mixed feed is known

PG.FW.4.d

Antibiotic or hormonal growth promoters are not used

PG.FW.4.1

Only animal products permitted by the scheme are fed to pigs

How you will be measured

PG.FW.4.1.b

Blood products and pig-derived nutritional products are not used

PG.FW.4.1.a

If feeding fishmeal on a farm where ruminants are also present, or you are making feed with fishmeal, you are authorised/registered with Defra/DAERA

Defra/DAERA registration for fishmeal

PG.FW.4.2

Only permitted former foodstuffs may be fed to pigs. Catering waste must not be used for pig feed

How you will be measured

PG.FW.4.2.a

Farms feeding unprocessed milk or milk products (unless produced from animals on the same farm) are registered on the national milk register (England and Wales only) Farms feeding unprocessed milk sourced from another farm have authorisation from DAERA (Northern Ireland only)

Milk registration

PG.FW.4.3

Diets must not exceed maximum permitted levels of copper

How you will be measured

PG.FW.4.3.a

Maximum permitted levels of total copper per kg feed is as follows: − for piglets up to 4 weeks post-weaning: 150 mg − for pigs between 5 and 8 weeks post-weaning: 100 mg − for all other pigs: 25 mg

PG.FW.5

Bought-in feed must be from an assured source or in specific circumstances with a warranty declaration

How you will be measured

PG.FW.5.a

Compounds and blended feed are UFAS assured, or equivalent

PG.FW.5.b

Bagged or sealed compounded or blended feed, minerals, mineral blocks/licks (except for rock salt), supplements and milk replacers are sourced from a UFAS merchant or from a non-UFAS merchant by a UFAS, or equivalent, compounder

PG.FW.5.c

Straights are assured under UFAS, FEMAS or equivalent; or sourced from a farm that is a member of a combinable crops assurance scheme accompanied by a completed grain passport

PG.FW.5.d

Vegetables and fruit which have not been processed beyond basic grading and washing are sourced from a farm that is a member of a fresh produce assurance scheme (including when sourced via a third party)

PG.FW.5.e

Processed food by-products are assured under UFAS, FEMAS or equivalent

PG.FW.5.f

The following feed materials are sourced with a completed warranty declaration: - farm-to-farm supplies of any feeds unexpectedly in surplus - hay and/or straw supplied by forage merchants - vegetables and fruit not covered by an assurance scheme (e.g. fodder beets) and have not been processed beyond basic grading and washing

Warranty declaration

PG.FW.6

Records of all feedstuffs purchased must be kept

How you will be measured

PG.FW.6.a

Feed records detail: - supplier name - feed type including ingredient composition - date of delivery - quantity - load or batch number

PG.FW.6.b

Records are kept for 2 years

Feed delivery documents/ invoices/ warranty declarations/ grain passports/ own records

AIM: On-farm mixing produces safe animal feed

PG.FW.7

When mixing two or more feed materials together records must be kept

How you will be measured

PG.FW.7.a

For total mixed rations (TMR) that incorporate forages or moist feeds produced on a daily basis, produce a record of the ingredients and quantities and update it when the mix changes

PG.FW.7.b

For home mixed compounds, meals or blends based on dry feed ingredients records of every batch mixed are kept detailing ingredients, quantities, mixing dates

Home-mixing records

PG.FW.8

When the mix formulation changes samples must be kept

How you will be measured

PG.FW.8.a

For dry-feed mixes, samples of dry feed ingredients (over 3% inclusion) or samples of finished feed mix are kept

PG.FW.8.b

For wet feed mixes, samples of dry feed ingredients (over 3% inclusion) are kept

PG.FW.8.c

Samples are kept for a minimum of 6 months after last use

PG.FW.8.d

Samples are: - representative (small samples from several different points) - of adequate quantity (approx. 0.5 kg) - free from contamination - identifiable (labelled with feed details and date) - stored in a cool, dry area

PG.FW.9

If mixing using ‘pre-mixtures’, ‘additives’ or medicated feeds you must have Local Authority approval and meet any associated obligations

How you will be measured

PG.FW.9.a

The site has Local Authority Approval

PG.FW.9.b

There is a HACCP system in place

PG.FW.9.c

There is a Quality Control Plan in place

PG.FW.9.d

Additional approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is in place if medicated feeds are being incorporated

Local authority approval
HACCP
Quality Control Plan
VMD approval

PG.FW.10

Mobile feed mixing contractors must be suitably certified

How you will be measured

PG.FW.10.a

Contractors certified to the NAAC Assured Land-Based Contractor Mobile Feed Mixing and Processing scheme, or scheme deemed equivalent by Red Tractor

Contractor's NAAC registration number

AIM: Feed remains clean, palatable and free from contamination

PG.FW.11

Controls must be in place to minimise the risk of contamination of feeds by machinery and equipment

How you will be measured

PG.FW.11.a

All feeding and mixing equipment and lorries/trailers/feed boxes/buckets used for transporting feed are maintained in a clean condition and are suitable for purpose

PG.FW.12 Key

Feed must be stored in a manner which minimises the risk of contamination

How you will be measured

PG.FW.12.a

Storage facilities protect against feed contamination by domestic animals, wildlife and vermin

PG.FW.12.b

If feed hoppers are accessible to birds (indoor and outdoor) measures are in place to minimise contamination of feed stored in the hopper (not the trough/pan itself), e.g. hopper covers

PG.FW.12.c

Storage facilities for dry feed are weatherproof

PG.FW.12.d

In loose feed storage areas lighting is covered, unless shatterproof bulbs are used

PG.FW.12.e

Risk of cross-contamination is minimised by ensuring feed is readily identifiable and keeping different feeds separate