Canadian swine producer surpasses Prop 12 requirements
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Farms.com
Quebec-based DuBreton farms has announced that it is now California Animal Care Program Certified.
California’s controversial Proposition 12, known as prop 12, requires that swine livestock producers restrict gestation crate usage, and says that each sow must have 24 square feet of space.
“Today, we reach another step forward, since we are not just compliant, but fully audited and ready for California’s Proposition 12, which goes into effect on January 1st, 2024.” shared Vincent Breton, CEO.
DuBreton farms is a fourth generation farming operation that has raised crate-free pigs since 2003.
Unlike DuBreton, many US and Canadian farmers say they won’t be making changes on their farms to become compliant.
For many farmers the issue is that the Prop 12 and similar laws in Massachusetts and New Jersey will force swine producers to make their barn sizes larger, or reduce the number of sows in their herd to be able to give the required 24 square feet of space.