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Motion · S7M-00097 · 20 May 2026

Promoting Pig Welfare

Lodged by Maggie Chapman (Scottish Green Party) Members' Business Motion 13 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes that farrowing crates are metal cages used on pig farms to confine a sow shortly before she gives birth and throughout the nursing period; understands that these crates are about two metres long and less than one metre wide, preventing the sow from turning around or moving naturally; regrets that over 200,000 mother pigs on UK farms are forced to spend nearly a quarter of their adult lives confined in farrowing crates; welcomes that polling carried out by Humane World for Animals UK earlier in 2026, showed that 84% of respondents from Scotland reject the use of farrowing crates for mother pigs; thanks Humane World for Animals UK for touring Scotland with Penny, the life-size robot pig in a replica farrowing crate, to raise awareness of the distress that the small metal cage causes; regrets what it sees as continued Scottish Government delays to consulting on an end to farrowing crates, and recognises the view that farrowing crates, as well as flexible or temporary crates, which sows are confined in for slightly less time, should be banned, and farms supported to transition to higher-welfare free farrowing pens to protect sows and piglets, including in the North East Scotland Region.  

Supporters (13)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.