Stand Up for Pigs

While the Scottish Government has recently consulted on phasing out cages for laying hens, the consultation did not include farrowing crates for mother pigs. This is despite their 2021-2022 Programme for Government commitment to do so. 

Help us to hold the Government accountable.

A pregnant pig will be placed in a farrowing crate a week before her due date, and she will remain there with her piglets until they are weaned at around 4 weeks.  

A pregnant sow will suffer tremendously in these confining crates.

She is unable to turn around or move beyond lying down and standing up, sometimes with difficulty, as the crate is barely bigger than her own body. She cannot build a nest for her piglets, which she is strongly motivated to do, nor interact with or care for her piglets (beyond allowing them to suckle through bars). 

Stand Up for Pigs at Parliament

In January 2024, we commenced a three-day long exhibition at the Scottish Parliament. Our replica of a farrowing crate allowed MSPs to experience just how confining these cages are. 

We spoke with 29 MSPs from across all five main political parties, former Minister for Energy and Environment Gillian Martin and many MSP staff members. Our conversations were very productive, with many MSPs very supportive of our campaign, given the negative physical and mental impacts that these cages have on both the mother pig and her babies. 

11,500 Stand Up for Pigs

11,500 of our supporters emailed the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, urging the Government to consult on a phase out to farrowing crates.

OneKind supporter, Jamie, is pictured making a stand in scots.

Standing Up for Pigs in Edinburgh

Alongside our volunteers, we gathered on one of the city centre’s busiest streets with a life-sized replica of a farrowing crate, a large-scale information board, pig masks, and placards to highlight the many welfare issues caused by farrowing crates. 

We raised awareness of the cruelty of farrowing crates, gathered public support and even secured coverage of the demonstration by The Herald and Third Force News.

Stand Up for Pigs in Parliament ... again!

In January 2025, together with Humane World for Animals, we had a drop in event in Parliament to keep up the political pressure to end the use of crates. We spoke with MSPs from all main parties, including some who were previously unaware of this issue. We are in regular contact with some of MSPs and our political work is ongoing.