Pig welfare in Danish units must remain top class

These factors have the highest priority among Danish pig producers and in the Danish government.

In February 2024, the Danish government and a number of parties

concluded an animal welfare agreement for livestock in Denmark.  

Known as Together for Animals, the agreement contains seven

initiatives to ensure that the welfare of pigs on Danish farms is

maintained, improved and developed. The agreement is the result

of a political settlement between several Danish parliamentary

parties. On 1 March, 2025, the first elements came into legislative

effect. Many of these initiatives are already being carried out on

a voluntary basis by the industry and have already been

implemented on Danish pig farms.  

Well-established initiatives for pig producers who already work with the special welfare requirements that go beyond EU requirements.  

Although there is now an agreement in place covering welfare

improvements, several of the initiatives are not new for pig

producers. For example, the requirement regarding the installation

of a sprinkling system in finisher units is nothing new. Sprinkling 

sows to ensure optimum body temperature has already been

voluntarily implemented. The new legislation now requires that the

system must be used with appropriate duration and intervals with

loose-housed pigs in groups. Since the end of 2018, local

anaesthesia and long-lasting pain relief when castrating pigs has

been an industry requirement. Anaesthesia prior to castration will

now become a legal requirement in Denmark. The proportion of

entire males (non-castrated pigs) that are slaughtered in Denmark

is 30%.  Several special requirements that are already being

voluntarily implemented include: bedding in the resting area in

units for pregnant sows, solid or slatted flooring for piglets (50 per

cent of the area) and finishers (30 per cent of the area). This is to

ensure that pigs have a comfortable resting area. There is no

requirement for solid or slatted flooring for piglets and finishers in

the rest of the EU. There is a requirement for BOTH rooting and

enrichment material of natural origin in all units. 

For an overview of all Danish special requirements and

initiatives click on link: 20 special requirements raise Danish pig production

New initiatives in animal welfare legislation

The new animal welfare legislation contains seven initiatives to improve pig welfare.  
These initiatives will ensure that Danish pigs will benefit from the highest possible welfare standard and that a number of welfare requirements that go beyond the EU requirements for pig welfare are continued and developed.  

Many of the initiatives are already being carried out by the industry on a voluntary basis.

1. Higher piglet survival

Various studies are underway to identify possible solutions for higher piglet survival, including the possibility of deploying more robust breeding lines and management initiatives.

2. Loose-housed sows in farrowing units

Danish pig production is the most advanced in the EU in terms of building loose-housing in farrowing pens on a voluntary basis. Since 2015, all new service units in Denmark have been designed for loose-housing and this will apply to all units from 2035. 

In Denmark, it will no longer be possible to confine sows, apart from a few days around farrowing time when the risk of a sow crushing her piglets is greatest.  Newly built farrowing units must contain loose-housing systems, and any confinement must be phased out in existing farrowing units. The use of existing farrowing units will be phased out over a transition period that is determined in such a way that the initiative is deemed not to constitute expropriation.  

3. Training requirements for stockpersons working with sows 

Increased knowledge and understanding of animal welfare can be achieved through training and is regarded as a means to reduce piglet and sow mortality. The parties to the agreement have agreed that all employees in sow herds with more than 10 sows must receive training over and above the existing training requirements for herd owners.

4. More pigs with intact tails

According to current EU regulations, tail docking as a matter of routine

is prohibited. However, tail docking is permitted when certain

conditions are met. For several years, the Danish pig industry has

been working voluntarily to minimise tail docking through various

initiatives. 1 January 2025 saw the launch of a redistribution model

whereby pig producers who keep pigs with intact tails receive

compensation for their costs from pig producers who continue to dock

their pigs. 

The aim is to achieve 4 million pigs with intact tails before the end of 2028. The first licitation round will be in spring 2025 and will be announced from 18 March.

5. Sprinkling systems in pig units

Sprinkling systems in pig units can be used to regulate body

temperature and ensure animal welfare.  Today, contrary to EU

requirements, there is already a requirement for sprinklers in all

units housing pigs over 20 kg to ensure their welfare and a good

indoor climate.  

There is also a requirement that sprinkling systems must be

installed in all units where pigs are loose-housed, but there is no

requirement that the system must be used. The parties to the

agreement have agreed to introduce rules governing the use of

sprinkler systems to promote pig welfare and to reduce the

prevalence of tail biting. 

6. Anaesthetic prior to castration

Local anaesthetic prior to castration has, until now, been an industry requirement. It will now become a matter of legislation that the pig is locally anaesthetised prior to castration and that stockpersons have undertaken one of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration’s approved courses in anaesthetising pigs.

7. Action for high sow welfare

Should a herd have exceeded the threshold for sow mortality over a

period of four months, the herd owner must arrange an additional

advisory visit within 30 days and subsequently every four months until

the herd’s sow mortality is brought below the threshold. In addition, a

review of existing knowledge regarding variation in seasonal piglet

mortality and sow mortality among different breeding lines will be

carried out. The review will be conducted by the Danish Veterinary and

Food Administration with the involvement of various stakeholders. This

may, for example, take place through a hearing.