Legal basis and policy objectives
- Republic Act No. 8485 (Animal Welfare Act of 1998) aims to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines under Section 3.1.1.
- The Code is intended to encourage persons involved in the pig industry to adopt the highest standards of husbandry under Section 1.
- Good welfare procedures are tied to economic benefits by enhancing productivity under Section 1.
- The Code is aligned with the five basic freedoms: freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition; physical discomfort and pain; injury and disease; essential behavior patterns; and fear and distress under Section 1.
- The Code addresses pigs kept under conditions ranging from backyard to large commercial enterprises and emphasizes that day-to-day caretakers must treat pigs with utmost care and consideration under Section 1.
Definitions and regulated welfare terms
- “Ad Libitum” means feeding without limit under Section 2.1.
- “Animal Transport” means transporting animals from origin to destination using land, air, or water conveyance under Section 2.2; land, air, and water transport are separately defined under Sections 2.2.1–2.2.3.
- “Backyard Piggery” means raising less than 20 sows under Section 2.4.
- “Commercial Piggery” means raising more than 20 sows under Section 2.12.
- “Licensed Veterinarian” means a person holding the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, registered with the PRC, and with a current Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) under Section 2.26.
- “Non-Resident Veterinarian” means a licensed veterinarian retained/contracted to check the farm at least once a month under Section 2.30.
- “Resident Veterinarian” means a licensed veterinarian residing in the farm to check and evaluate veterinary requirements and animal welfare status under Section 2.32.
- “Tongue Piercing” is defined as a prohibited practice of making a hole in the tongue for marks or identification under Section 2.42.
Registration, veterinarian requirements, and prohibitions
- All pig farms with a stocking level of 300 sows and above must have a Resident Veterinarian, while those below must have a Consulting Veterinarian, and both must be registered with the PRC with a current PTR under Section 3.1.2.
- Pig farms with a 20-sow level and above must be registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry under Section 3.1.4.
- When pigs are used in feeding trials or scientific purposes, the trial or procedures must conform to DA AO 40, series of 1999 under Section 3.1.5.
- No person shall commit the following prohibited acts under Section 3.1.3:
- Cruelly treating any pig under Section 3.1.3.1.
- Omitting to supply proper and sufficient food, water, and shelter under Section 3.1.3.2.
- Willfully or wantonly neglecting a pig resulting in unreasonable or unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress under Section 3.1.3.3.
- Slaughtering, branding, mutilating, confining, or carrying any animal in a manner or position that causes the pig unnecessary pain or suffering under Section 3.1.3.4.
- Keeping alive any pig in such a condition that is cruel to keep it alive under Section 3.1.3.5.
- Castration limits apply under Section 3.2:
- No person shall castrate any pig over 14 days old unless performed by a veterinarian using local or general anaesthesia.
- Castration may be done as early as 1 day old and an average age of 3 days under Section 3.2.
- Tongue piercing is prohibited: no person shall pierce the tongue of a pig or any part under Section 3.3.
- Ear notching limits apply: no person shall ear notch piglets more than seven days old under Section 3.4.
- Tail docking limits apply under Section 3.5:
- Routine preventive tail docking may be carried out in piglets during the first three days of life.
- One third to one half of the tail may be removed by a competent operator.
- Tail docking beyond 7 days of age is allowed only in an emergency and must be done by a licensed veterinarian under Section 3.5.
- Tethering rules apply under Section 3.6:
- In backyard farms, tethering may be allowed only with a minimum of 2.5 meters secured overhead.
- The tethering must use a harness with one loop around the neck and the other around the chest behind the elbows.
- Tethering in the ankle and a ring in the snout are strictly prohibited.
- Close tethering is prohibited in all cases.
- Feed-related guidance: feed composition is critical to welfare and suitable feeds and feeding systems can be obtained from the Department of Agriculture through appropriate agencies, feed mill cooperatives, or other firms under Section 3.7.
- Clipping of needle/milk teeth is limited under Section 3.8:
- Done within 2 days from birth.
- No more than one third of the tooth shall be removed.
- Clean and appropriate equipment must be used.
Mandatory indoor housing and facility standards (Sections 4–10)
- Pig houses and shelters must be constructed according to building recommendations of BAI, ITCPH, PCSP, or pig experts in government or private sector under Section 4.1.1.
- Farm managers and caretakers must possess adequate technical/practical knowledge and experience for maintenance, especially when special buildings and mechanical/electrical equipment are involved under Section 4.1.2.
- Pig houses must be built on sites safe from flooding or landslides under Section 4.1.3.
- Precautions against fire require sufficient fire exits for evacuation under Section 4.1.4.
- Electrical installations must be periodically checked, preferably monthly, under Section 4.1.5.
- Firefighting equipment must be installed under Section 4.1.6.
- Hygiene rules require easily cleaned and disinfected materials for walls, ceilings, fittings, and floors under Section 4.2.1.
- Drains must be kept clear, and pens must be cleaned of spoiled feed/dung and disinfected before restocking under Section 4.2.2.
- Floors must be non-slip and include a clean dry area of sufficient size for all pigs to sleep comfortably at the same time under Section 4.3.1.
- Where floors are not slatted, there must be sufficient space for a separate dunging area under Section 4.3.2.
- Slatted floor designs must consider piglets, fatteners, and breeders, and slat/solid-area and gap relationships must follow Annex 1 under Section 4.3.3.
- Safety rules require:
- Removal or covering of sharp projections and edges likely to injure pigs under Section 4.4.1.
- Regular inspection and keeping pen fittings in good working order under Section 4.4.2.
- Prohibition on paint and timber preservatives toxic to pigs on surfaces accessible to pigs under Section 4.4.3.
- Electrical fittings/attachments placed out of pigs’ reach under Section 4.4.4.
- Proper division for storage of drugs and dangerous chemicals used around the piggery under Section 4.4.5.
- Lighting requires artificial light to be available during night or darkened periods under Section 4.6.
- Temperature rules require housed pigs to be protected from wide to abrupt temperature fluctuations within any 24-hour period under Section 4.7.
- Newborn piglets must be protected from cold stress and the creep/nest area must have a temperature of 320C up to three weeks of age under Section 4.7.1.2.
- Suspended heating devices must be kept out of reach or protected from piglet contact under Section 4.7.1.3.
- Cooling rules require pigs to be relieved during heat stress using appropriate cooling devices when internal house temperature and humidity are high, including consideration of automated water sprinklers where such problems regularly occur under Section 4.7.2.2.
- Air quality rules require:
- Balance between fresh air needs and protection from drafts under Section 4.8.2.
- Efficient ventilation where pigs are kept over static effluent storage systems under Section 4.8.3.
- Regular checking for noxious gases at pig level under Section 4.8.4.
- Ammonia must not exceed 20 ppm of air in an enclosed pig house without immediate corrective action under Section 4.8.5.
- Mechanical equipment must be regularly inspected at least once a month and kept in good working condition under Section 4.9.1.
- In power failure or mechanical breakdown, there must be other means for heating, lighting, ventilation, and feeding/watering provision under Section 4.9.2.
- Waste control requires regular cleaning and preventing contaminated bedding, feces, and urine accumulation to stages that threaten pigs’ health or disrupt their instinct to separate dunging and sleeping areas under Section 4.10.
- Farrowing sows and suckling piglets require:
- Means to protect piglets from overlaying by the sow under Section 4.11.1.
- Sows to be introduced to clean farrowing quarters at least 3-5 days before farrowing under Section 4.11.2.
- Farrowing crates designed for appropriate sow lying length without leg restriction, and enabling the sow to rise comfortably under Section 4.11.2.
- Bottom rails/aprons to allow piglets to suckle freely at one time, plus adequate top railing to prevent sow climbing while allowing normal management under Section 4.11.3.
- Crates appropriate to sow weight/allowance and caretakers responsible for welfare and crate appropriateness under Section 4.11.4.
- Strong recommendation that sows not be confined in farrowing crates for more than 1 month at any one time under Section 4.11.5.
- Maintenance of suitable piglet temperature and artificial heating for at least the first 7-14 days of life with secure, protected heating devices under Section 4.11.6.
- Weaning at 30 days old, with earlier weaning requiring special nutrition/equipment provisions under Section 4.11.7.
- Early piglet access to meal within 1 week of birth and desired creep feeding beginning by the end of the second week with highly digestible creep feed under Section 4.11.8.
- Clean source of water from birth at suitable piglet height and of the same type as weaners’ area to minimize dehydration risk at weaning under Section 4.11.9.
- Floor gap attention for piglets on perforated/slatted floors to avoid leg/foot injury under Section 4.11.10.
- Growing pigs require adequate total floor space for sleeping, feeding, and exercising, with minimum sleeping areas sufficient for all pigs to lie on their sides simultaneously; minimum space allowances are to refer to Table 2 under Section 4.12.
- Dry sows and gilts must have welfare management preventing persistent bullying leading to severe injury or food deprivation, with separate penning when persistent bullying occurs under Section 4.13.2.
- Group-housed dry sows/gilts with individual feeding systems are recommended under Section 4.13.3.
- Lying areas must always be kept dry, dunging areas drained effectively, and prevention of lameness/foot damage from poorly maintained bare concrete/slatted/perforated floors under Section 4.13.4.
- Straw or similar bedding in the lying area is strongly recommended under Section 4.13.5.
- Dry sows in groups must be kept in pens of adequate size (see Table 2) under Section 4.13.6.
- Stalls restrictions under Section 4.14:
- Individual stalls/crates restrict movement and may cause abnormal behavior and leg weakness/injury; alternative accommodation must be provided for pigs showing severe lameness/behavioral problems under Section 4.14.1.
- Breeding boars, sows, and gilts shall not be confined in individual stalls and/or farrowing crates for more than 6 weeks at any one time.
- In any reproductive cycle, confinement shall not exceed 60% of the period; a reproductive cycle is defined as 150 days under Section 4.14.2.
- When released, animals must be moved to accommodation for a reasonable period allowing natural body functions relatively unrestricted and without opportunities for excessive aggression under Section 4.14.2.
- Boar accommodation standards under Section 4.15:
- Boars may be kept alone or in small groups; group selection requires compatibility and bullying must not occur if housed with breeding gilts or dry sows under Section 4.15.1.
- Individual adult boar accommodation floor area must be not less than 7.5 m2, with shortest side not less than 2.5 m, and pen divisions not less than 1.5 m high under Section 4.15.2.
- Boar pens must not isolate the boar from sight/sound of sows during the period up to successful mating; housing adjacent to sows is preferable under Section 4.15.2.
- Boar pen floors require adequate slope for drainage and non-slip surface under Section 4.15.3.
- Boar tusks may be trimmed under Section 4.15.4.
Feeding, watering, and newborn/orphan rules
- Feed quantity and feeding must be based on growth and production stages using Table 6 guidance under Section 5.1.1.
- Adequate feed inventory must be ensured, and sudden diet composition changes must be avoided to prevent digestive upsets under Section 5.1.2.
- Digestion formulations must meet protein, fat, fiber, energy, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids requirements under Section 5.1.3.
- Only drugs and proper usage approved by DA-BAI and DOH-BFAD shall be used under Section 5.1.4.
- Where pigs are not fed ad libitum, trough space or floor area must allow all pigs to feed at the same time unless the operation uses computer-controlled feeding systems under Section 5.1.5.
- Pigs must be supplied with proper and sufficient feed and water to maintain health at least once a day under Section 5.1.6.
- Young recently weaned pigs must be fed ad libitum or at least twice daily with sufficient quantities, and feed quality must conform to the NCRP nutrient standard under Section 5.1.7.
- Sloughs and swills shall not be fed to pigs in commercial operations under Section 5.1.8.
- Mechanically or electronically controlled feeding stations must comply with:
- Careful planning of building layout and station location under Section 5.2.1.
- Independent water supply outside the feeding point under Section 5.2.2.
- Safeguards preventing trapping in feeders and failure to obtain feed under Section 5.2.3.
- Controlled flow in/out of feeders to avoid bullying and aggression under Section 5.2.4.
- Regular monitoring to ensure daily rations are received under Section 5.2.5.
- Proper procedures introducing new animals to minimize aggression under Section 5.2.6.
- Drinking water requirements:
- Water quality must be suitable and tested for salt/mineral content and microbiological contamination under Section 5.3.1.
- Fresh water must be available and accessible at all times under Section 5.3.2.
- Automatic watering systems must be checked regularly under Section 5.3.3.
- Water supply and reserves must cope with 24-hour demand under Section 5.3.4.
- Medication in water must be based on competent veterinary advice and veterinary prescription when necessary under Section 5.3.6.
- Newborn piglets must receive an iron supplement within 3 days of birth, and all piglets must receive adequate colostrum from the sow or a suitable substitute before transfer or hand rearing under Section 5.4.
- Weaning piglets below 30 days must occur only with a very efficient management system under Section 5.5.
- Piglets weighing less than 6 kg must not be weaned unless exceptional circumstances are certified by the resident veterinarian under Section 5.5.
- Orphan pig rules under Section 5.6:
- If the sow dies or milk supply fails, pigs must be fostered, hand-reared, or humanely disposed of under AO 21, series of 1999 under Section 5.6.1.
- Hand-reared piglets must receive colostrum or an appropriate colostral substitute first, then fortified cow’s milk or proprietary liquid supplement, with starter meal introduction after 3 days under Section 5.6.2.
- After a week, diet can comprise prestarter meal with no less than 22% CP content fed ad libitum with fresh water separately under Section 5.6.2.
- Orphaned piglets must be housed in a dry, warm (not lower than 27oC), draft-free, clean area; mixing and feeding equipment must be thoroughly clean under Section 5.6.2.
Routine humane handling and restricted animal procedures
- Humane handling must be observed, and backing boards are recommended under Section 6.1.
- Procedures that cause pain or discomfort must not be carried out by regular caretakers; a competent person other than the caretaker must perform them under Section 6.1.
- Inspect pigs regularly when pregnant sows are due to farrow or kept in close confinement, in very hot weather, during disease outbreaks, when vices such as tail biting occur, or after groups are mixed under Section 6.1.
- Castration as routine:
- Castration is normally unnecessary in modern production; if done, it must be as early as management allows (usually at 3-5 days) but not later than 14 days under Section 6.2.1.
- Clean, sharp instruments and strict hygiene must be used under Section 6.2.1.
- If castration is necessary for piglets with scrotal hernia and those above 14 days, it must be done under anaesthesia by a veterinarian under Section 6.2.2.
- Identification permits include ear notching, tagging, punching, tattooing, or electronic identification; particular care is required in tattooing to avoid pain/discomfort under Section 6.3.
- Pig ear-notching for identification must be done before reaching 7 days of age under Section 6.3.
- Tusk trimming is allowed as a precaution in aggressive boars under Section 6.4.1, and tusks must be severed skillfully above the level of the gums without damaging other tissues under Section 6.4.2.
- Mixing rules: unfamiliar pigs must be mixed in ways minimizing aggression (e.g., using a new pen, providing feed on the floor, or using a pen with room for escape) under Section 6.5.
- Backfat measurement may use only ultrasonic equipment on the live animal; mechanical probes are not permitted under Section 6.6.
- Restraint rules:
- Small pigs may be held by hand; mature pigs must be restrained with a noose over the upper jaw or placed in a crate under Section 6.7.
- Appropriately designed crates are recommended under Section 6.7.
- Moving pigs rules prohibit:
- Electric prodders, plastic pipes, and dogs for moving pigs under Section 6.8.
- Canvass slappers and backing boards are the best devices for moving pigs under Section 6.8.
Vices control and health management
- When pigs develop vices such as tail and ear biting, pigs with ear or tail bites must be immediately separated from pen mates under Section 7.
- The Code identifies contributing factors to vices as nutritional requirements, too much light, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, competition at feeding/watering places under Section 7.
- Normal pig behavior and welfare indicators require caretakers to be familiar with signs of good health, including appetite and activity under Section 8.1.
- Signs of illness include separation from the group, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, abnormal urine/feces appearance/consistency, skin discoloration, shivering, sneezing, rapid/irregular breathing, persistent coughing/panting, rapid weight loss, abdominal distension, lack of coordination, rough hair coat, abnormal behavior, swollen navels/udders/joints, and abnormal discharges under Section 8.2.1.
- A licensed veterinarian must be consulted immediately when pigs show signs of illness under Section 8.2.2.
- Pigs with incurable sickness or painful deformities must be humanely disposed of in accordance with DA AO 21, series of 1999 under Section 8.2.3.
- Inspection must occur at least once each day, with frequency and level related to risk; inspections are best made at feeding times under Section 8.3.
- Regular checks must be made on automated feeding/watering system effectiveness where installed at least 4-5 times a day or as often as needed under Section 8.3.
- Disease prevention program must include vaccination, culling, disposal of dead pigs, post-mortem, and medication under Section 8.4.1.
- Those responsible must maintain high standards of personal hygiene as part of disease prevention programs under Section 8.4.1.
- Procedures must be carried out with skill and concern for pig welfare under Section 8.4.2.
- Records of deaths, sick animals, treatments given, and response to treatment must be kept to assist disease investigations under Section 8.4.3.
- If clinical signs persist despite remedial action, veterinary advice must be sought under Section 8.4.4.
- Sick and injured animals must be treated as soon as possible; if necessary, they must be isolated under Section 8.4.5.
- Pigs with incurable disease or painful deformity must be humanely disposed of under Section 8.4.6.
- Dead pigs must be promptly removed; disposal must be by burning or burying if not required for post-mortem under Section 8.4.7.
- Pigs must be inspected for internal and external parasites, and treatment must be instituted when abnormalities/infestations are detected under Section 8.4.8.
- A licensed veterinarian must be consulted in establishing a parasite control program under Section 8.4.9.
- Vaccination programs against hog cholera and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) must be observed in accordance with existing BAI regulations and program under Section 8.4.10.
- Serum samples must be made available to BAI veterinary officers for serological tests when required under Section 8.4.11.
- For notifiable disease outbreaks in epidemic proportion, BAI-Animal Health Division must always be notified; BAI personnel may enter, inspect, investigate, and observe biosecurity implementation under Section 8.4.12.
Emergency human slaughter standards
- Emergency slaughter covers circumstances such as injury or disease when pigs must be slaughtered for human reasons under Section 9.1.1.
- The slaughter method must be effective, cause immediate unconsciousness that persists until death, and must be preceded by quiet handling to avoid unnecessary distress or alarm under Section 9.1.2.
- DA AO No. 21, series of 1999 must be adopted for killing animals under Section 9.1.3.
- Very young pigs must be rendered unconscious by a blow to the head with a heavy metal object delivered to the frontal region at the site used for shooting with a rifle, with the skull fractured and the throat cut immediately to prevent regaining consciousness under Section 9.2.
- Grower and adult pigs must be stunned according to AO 21, series of 1999 before bleeding, using bleeding methods causing gross damage to the brain (particularly cerebrum and/or brain stem), followed by immediate bleeding by deep incision in the neck or by sticking between the first two ribs severing major vessels under Section 9.3.
Transport rules, densities, and journey limits
- Transport requires patience and proper design of yards and loading ramps to facilitate loading/unloading with minimum distress and bruising under Section 10.1.1.
- Pre-travel rest is not appropriate; pigs must be moved from housing and loaded into the transport vehicle in one operation under Section 10.1.2.
- Separate penning is recommended for young piglets, sows with piglets, adult boars, unfamiliar group pigs, and sows in advanced pregnancy under Section 10.1.3.
- Heat/cold protection requires pigs to be protected from direct sunlight; pigs shall not be transported in very hot humid weather where ambient temperature is 280C or hotter under Section 10.1.4.
- In cold weather, clean straw or other dry bedding is desirable; pigs must be protected from wind and rain under Section 10.1.5.
- Boars with protruding tusks must be transported in individual pens under Section 10.1.6.
- Marking skin with knives or sharp objects for identification is cruel; marking pens