The sector is well on its way to achieving its goal of three million pigs with intact tails by 2027.

A compensation scheme designed to ensure significantly more pigs with intact tails is in high demand among Danish pig producers. The application round for 2027 has now been completed, with the compensation rate set at DKK 39 per pig - DKK 11 less than in 2026. The lower rate reflects the growing interest in the scheme, as well as the fact that more producers are able to raise pigs with intact tails in their existing housing systems by devoting the necessary time and attention.  

Pig producers who applied to participate in the United Around Intact Tails project have now been notified whether they have received preliminary approval for compensation or whether their application has been unsuccessful. Due to the high level of interest, however, not all applicants can be offered a place in this round.

The scheme is funded by pig producers themselves, and work is currently underway to establish a model for collecting the necessary funds.

HC Gæmelke, Chairman of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Pig Sector, welcomes the high level of interest among producers.

“We’ve received significantly more applications than we hoped for. We are therefore well on our way to achieving our goal of three million pigs with intact tails by 2027,” he says.

The scheme is an initiative of the pig sector and is based on a redistribution model under which pig producers collectively fund compensation for producers who raise pigs with intact tails. The initiative was included in the animal welfare agreement adopted by the Danish Parliament in February 2024. In short, Danish pig producers who choose to raise pigs with intact tails receive financial compensation for doing so.