Farmers who have tether stalls will simply remove the tethers, erect a rear wall and so convert their tether stalls into sow stalls. Both tether stalls and sow stalls must be prohibited if we are to see any improvement in sow welfare. As indicated earlier, the central point about a sow stall is that it is so narrow that the sow cannot turn round. In the light of the SVC's conclusions, CIWF believes that the EU should prohibit sow stalls and require sows to either be kept free-range or group housed. They added that sows prefer to have social contact with other pigs and that they associate and interact in a friendly way much more than in an aggressive way.
Social contact is clearly impossible for sows confined in stalls and tethers.
The SVC stressed that sows devote time and energy to exploring their environment and seeking diversity in that environment. Stereotypies Stereotypies are frequently observed in stalled and tethered sows and are a major indicator of poor welfare. Stereotypic behaviour is highly repetitive behaviour, performed for no apparent purpose. They added that such behaviour is extremely rare in sows kept in complex environments. The SVC pointed out that stereotypies indicate that the animal is having difficulty in coping with its environment and hence that its welfare is poor.