To future proof his production and address societal demands, pig producer Jacob Drehn from Føllenslev in North-West Zealand and his piglet supplier are testing whether it is possible to produce pigs with intact tails. As part of the Together on Intact Tails project, the Danish Agriculture & Food Council has recently launched a tender for a compensation model that will provide financial compensation for additional costs incurred by producers who want to produce pigs with undocked tails.

”The compensation scheme will provide financial security for the adjustments and requirements that are necessary to produce with intact tails,” explains Jacob Drehn, who produces 35,000 finishers per year. 

Expect more time for care and supervision

Jacob Drehn has already learned what is needed. He has introduced trial pens and 15 per cent of the pigs now have intact tails. Because there will be a need for an additional stockperson, he expects the compensation to cover that.

”We’ll be spending more time on daily care and supervision to be certain that if there are any signs of tail biting starting to occur, we’re ready to take action,” he says.

Niels-Peder Nielsen, Chief Adviser at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council’s Pig Sector, is involved in the model’s implementation. He says that focus on management is an important aspect of producing pigs with intact tails.

”There are often routines that require adjustment, barn/pen facilities that need to be modified or even certain adjustments to the feed. This is why having an extra pair of hands in the barn is a good idea.”

General acceptance important

The key factors for Jacob Drehn are the welfare the initiative provides in the barn and the response by the general public.

”If the industry is to continue to have public acceptance of keeping pigs indoors, then we need to change some of the parameters that people are concerned about, particularly animal welfare. If we demonstrate a willingness to change instead of being compelled to do so by law, we’ll be in a better position going forwards.”