WelFarmers to promote pig welfare across the EU

Eight European countries have been tasked with finding a solution to a range of challenges, including loose-housed sows. Photo: SEGES Innovation. Trial solution with devided wire-type barn cleaner/sloping sides.

Hanne Maribo, Senior Adviser, Danish Agriculture & Food Council 

Animal welfare is high on the political agenda in Denmark and the EU. Many pig producers across Europe wish to improve pig welfare, but they are uncertain as to what measures really make a difference and what the financial and environment consequences are.

DAFC & SEGES Innovation get close to European pig units

WelFarmers is a new EU project whereby agricultural organisations and scientific institutions from eight member countries work together to promote practical solutions to welfare challenges in European pig production. The aim of the project is to identify practical solutions and knowledge that will hasten European pig production towards loose-housed sows, intact tails, pain-free castration, more entire males and better quality in pen design for growing pigs. Eight countries are involved in the project: Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Romania, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal – which together cover over half the EU’s pig production. DAFC and SEGES Innovation are participating from the Danish side. The project will also reach out to other member countries to ensure access to – and sharing of – the best solutions for improving pig welfare in production herds.

Regional networks and networks across national borders

Regional networks will be set up in each country to bring together pig producers, farm advisers, veterinarians and other stakeholders with an interest in - and ideas for - good solutions to welfare themes. Over the next three years, 192 solutions will be selected across eight countries, all originating from pig producers who have learned that a particular solution has made it easier to have loose-housed sows, pigs with intact tails, painless castration or improved pen conditions for growing pigs.

In addition to the regional networks, thematic groups will be set up across the various countries. These will comprise pig producers, organisations, decision-makers, advisers, researchers and representatives from the food industry. Their role is to select the 24 best proposals from the pool of 192 solutions submitted by the regional networks.  

Lever for new EU welfare regulations 

The project will end by identifying a raft of practical solutions that will make a difference to the way pig units operate. In short, the WelFarmers’ initiative will bring practical and proven solutions to the negotiating table when the negotiations on new animal welfare legislation resume, thus ensuring that the new legislation can also be implemented in practice.   

The first meeting with representatives from the participating countries was held in February in Portugal. Prior to the meeting, we gathered information about the level of implementation of the four pig welfare themes in the eight countries and what were seen as the most significant impediments to implementation. It is apparent that as challenges exist in most countries, practical solutions are required.

If you know – or have experience of - 'good practice' that you think will make a difference to one of the themes being studied – loose-housed sows, pigs with intact tails, pain-free castration or an improved pen environment for growing pigs, please contact hama@lf.dk.