Published 16/02/2012

Compassion in World Farming's Food Business team has been awarding food companies for their commitment to higher welfare products since 2007 and is now pleased to introduce a new award to its suite of Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards - the Good Pig Award.

The Good Pig Award will sit alongside the Good Egg, Good Chicken and Good Dairy awards and is open to all well known or notable food companies in Europe.

Award winners must have a policy, or a five-year welfare commitment for their breeding sows and meat pigs to achieve a full Good Pig Award. The criteria address issues of confinement, lack of "manipulable materials", tail docking, teeth clipping/grinding and surgical castration. Pigs are intelligent creatures and these are all issues that contribute to a pig's wellbeing and happiness.

In 2011, Compassion awarded eight producers that are making tangible benefits to pig welfare with a ' Leadership in Pig Welfare' award.

Jody Scheckter, former Formula One World Champion and organic farmer was awarded a Leadership in Pig Welfare accolade for his pig farming at Laverstoke Park Farm. He says: "We work incredibly hard to ensure our methods of farming are ethical and kind to animals, furthermore that the pastures on which our livestock feed are kept to our very high standards, which not only makes common sense, but is essential in our mission to produce the best tasting, healthiest food without compromise."

A staggering 265 million animals are now set to benefit each year from the welfare policies of all Good Farm Animal Welfare Award winners.

Read more:

• For more information about winners across Europe visit www.compassioninfoodbusiness.com or contact the Food Business Team on T: 01483 521950
• Read more about the welfare issues around pig farming