Irish pigs can expect a belated visit from Santa Claus this spring as new EU directives ordering farmers to provide toys for their "environmental enrichment" come into force.
Materials for rooting and playing such as straw, hay, mushroom compost, peatmoss, wood and novel objects, such as footballs, will soon become essential toys if farmers wish to satisfy the pig's natural urge to root and chew.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture confirmed that the EU directives will affect "all farmers involved in the keeping, rearing and breeding of pigs". Non-compliance could result in a maximum fine of €2000. Pigs are well known for their intelligence and require careful playground supervision: the directive states "they should be kept in groups with as little mixing as possible" and when pigs are mixed, "adequate opportunities to escape and hide from other pigs" must be provided.
Fighting amongst pigs occurs naturally, but boredom can cause "severe fighting" such as chewing each other's tails off.
The two EU directives came into law on January 1st this year and will be signed into Irish law shortly. Provision of chewable materials, group housing, noise levels, extra provisions for sick or injured pigs and weaning are among the principle areas covered by the EU directives. They are part of several EU rulings laying down minimum welfare standards for the protection of pigs.