Sow stall phase out to cost Australian pork industry 95 million dollars

The Australian pork industry's decision to voluntarily phase out gestation stalls by 2017 could put a significant number of small producers out of business.

Also known as sow stalls, the practice sees pigs confined in a metal enclosure, to minimise labor costs and prevent them from fighting.

It's estimated that the transition process will cost the industry up to $95 million.

David Lock is the chief executive of the Craig Mostyn Group, who operate several pork farms across WA, including Albany.

Mr Lock says consumers may have to pay up to 20 cents per kilo more for pork.

"Farmers will be seeking to pass on as much of the cost as possible.

"These costs will come through a number of different areas.

"There will be the capital cost that they need to spend to change the way their farm is laid out and there will also be productivity decreases, because they will be able to produce fewer pigs than they currently do.

"It's likely that inefficient farmers will exit the industry and it's not only because of this initiative, but generally pork farming is requiring people to be as productive as possible.

"In our company more than 30 per cent of our pigs are not in gestation stalls, we've seen this move coming for 18 months or more and have taken some very pro-active steps to be on the front foot.

"More than 30 per cent of our stalls are reared out doors on free range farms. "