# The PIGS Act: What It Actually Means

This bill would ban one of the most controversial practices in pig farming: keeping pregnant pigs in gestation crates, which are extremely small metal cages that prevent the animals from turning around or lying down comfortably. Under this law, breeding pigs would need at least 24 square feet of usable floor space per animal starting at the end of 2023, and they'd have to be able to turn in a complete circle without touching the sides of their enclosure or other pigs. Essentially, the bill is trying to end what many consider inhumane confinement practices that have become standard in industrial pig farming.

The bill includes some practical exceptions for situations like veterinary treatment, transportation, and the five days before a pig gives birth, recognizing that temporary confinement might be necessary in certain circumstances. It also sets up a financial assistance program to help pig farmers transition away from these practices, with at least $10 million in funding available over two years, with priority given to independent farmers who own their own pigs rather than large corporate operations.

For consumers, this could mean pork prices might increase somewhat as farmers invest in new housing systems, though the bill tries to ease that burden through government assistance. For pig farmers, especially smaller independent operations, this represents a significant change in how they'd need to house their animals, but they'd get help paying for the transition. The bill also makes clear that states can maintain their own animal welfare rules that are the same or stricter than this federal standard, so states that have already banned these practices wouldn't be affected. Violations would result in penalties similar to those used for other agricultural violations.

PIGS Act of 2023

Pigs in Gestation Stalls Act of 2023 or the PIGS Act of 2023 This bill expands the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit certain methods of confining breeding pigs that restrict their movement. In addition, it establishes a program that provides financial assistance to pig producers to assist them in complying with the prohibitions.