Money allocated for better animal welfare for pigs

The Danish Minister for Environment and Food Esben Lunde Larsen has just allocated around EUR 1,2 million to an additional application round in 2019 for pig producers, so that more can apply for subsidies to improve animal welfare for pigs.

“We wish that far more Danish female pigs should be able to move freely in their farrowing house. Therefore, I am very pleased that it has now been possible to allocate EUR 1,2 million in order to strengthen the welfare of the pigs. My wish is that the extra money can contribute to the ‘Pig Action Plans’ goal that 10% of the living pigs will be able to walk freely around by 2020,” says Esben Lunde Larsen, Ministor for Environment and Food.

The future pig production in Denmark

Under the scheme of loose housing in farrowing houses, pig farmers can apply for grants to build new farrowing houses or rebuild existing ones, so their female pigs can move freely around. The female pigs are housed in the farrowing houses from about one week before they are expected to farrow and then remain in the farrowing house for a few weeks while the piglets breed.

When the Danish pig producer Michael Nielsen built his farrowing house in 2015, it was based on a desire to create better living conditions for his 850 female pigs while at the same time ensure quality in his production.

“I would like to take the lead in the future pig production where animal welfare, consumer demands and economics can go hand in hand. There is no doubt that the female pigs welfare has improved for my female pigs, now that they can walk around freely in the farrowing house. They have better movement and behave more naturally. For me and my employees, it is also a nicer environment to work in. We have a much closer connection to the female pigs,” says Michael Nielsen, who produces 26,000 piglets annually.

The Minister for Environment and Food in Denmark hopes that more pig producers like Michael Nielsen will set up farrowing houses with more space.

“With additional support in 2019 I hope that more pig producers will invest in farrowing houses with loose housing, so we together can strengthen animal welfare for Danish pigs and future-proof pig production in Denmark,” says Esben Lunde Larsen.

This year EUR 2,5 million has been allocated to the farrowing house scheme, which pig producers can apply for at the Danish Agricultural Agency from the 15th of June 2018 to the 30th of August 2018.

Source: Ministry of Environment and Food

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