Types of Farming

Free Range

Free range means that pigs are kept outdoors with shelter from the elements provided, furnished with bedding.

Free range pork production consists of outdoor paddocks, which include rooting areas, wallows and kennels/huts for shelter. The huts allow the animals to seek shelter from environmental extremes. They also provide additional protection for the piglets when very young.

The weaners, grower pigs and sows from which they have been bred, live in open spaces and can run around outside for their entire life within paddocks. Shelter, food and water must be provided and all pigs at all times must be able to move freely in and out of the shelter and move freely around the paddocks, unless required to be confined for short amounts of time for routine husbandry or diagnostic procedures to be conducted. All pigs raised under free range conditions must comply with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals (Pigs 2007).The Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance program (APIQ) provides verification of the free range descriptor through the following standards:

1.  Pigs are born and raised outdoors in paddocks with shelter provided for protection from the elements and predators until they are transported for sale or slaughter.
2.  Breeding sows must be kept outdoors in a paddock with shelter provided for protection from the elements and predators until they are transported for sale or slaughter.
3.  All classes of pigs must be able to move freely in and out of the shelters provided and move freely around the paddock, unless they are required to be confined in housing for short periods of time
    for vaccinations and other health treatments, mating or under veterinary advice or special care by a competent stockperson only.