Agriculture minister introduced ‘unlawful and invalid’ pig welfare standards, judge rules

Farrowing crates restrict the movement of sows and reduce their ability to carry out nest building and other normal behaviours. Animal welfare standards brought in by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor in 2018 were illegal and invalid because they circumvented earlier law changes designed to phase out the controversial practice of farrowing crates and mating stalls for pigs, a High Court judge has ruled. Read more