Document type: article published in eFeedLink
Author: eFeedLink
Preview: Denmark's Ministry of Food and Agriculture has launched a comprehensive animal welfare plan with 23 initiatives to improve animal welfare in both production animals and pets. The plan will form the basis for the country's first animal welfare agreement. The following is a list of initiatives for pigs:
- Improved piglet survival: The Danish government seeks to set up a working group to identify possible solutions to ensure higher survival rates for piglets;
- Phasing out farrowing crates: The government proposed that new farrowing barns should be built so sows are only restrained around the time of farrowing. Existing farrowing barns designed for longer-term restraint should be phased out;
- Required training for employees: Currently, only the persons responsible for the herd are required to receive training, not all sow farm employees. The government wants to introduce training requirements for all employees in farms with more than 10 sows;
- More pigs with intact tails: The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration estimated that more than 95% of Danish pigs are tail-docked. To reduce this number, the government will investigate how a tax can be introduced to ensure more intact tails;
- Regulations for sprinkler systems: Sprinklers are used to regulate the body temperature of the animals. Sprinkler systems must be installed in Danish barns - but there are currently no regulations on how and when they should be used;
- Anesthesia for castrating piglets: The government wants to mandate that all male piglets receive anesthesia before castration to prevent pain;
- Efforts to increase sow survival.
