The trip was organised for a group of scientists, professors from leading agricultural universities and representatives of industry associations to discuss current issues of pig welfare, learn about their practical implementation on the example of Sweden, and discuss methods of presenting this information to both students and livestock producers. The guests were welcomed by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
The visit included a 6-day working programme, which, in addition to lectures and discussions, included meetings with veterinary specialists, specialists involved in welfare audits, and university professors.
As for the pig industry, the main topics for discussion were welfare requirements on pig farms. Unlike the EU, Sweden introduced them much earlier, starting in 1980. For example, tail cutting has been abandoned, and sows are kept in groups throughout their reproductive life, except for the first 5-7 hours after insemination, when they are left in individual pens. Given that these requirements require special attention to combat aggression (biting tails, ears, fighting, etc.), the appropriate space per head is required. For this purpose, different calculation methods are applied: the established coefficient is multiplied by the live weight of the animal and thus the required housing area for different age groups of animals is calculated, which would allow them to coexist comfortably. The participants were able to see how this works in practice at the SLU research centre, which, in addition to conducting research and testing innovative technologies in pig breeding, also operates as a commercial farm.
Particular attention was paid to meeting the welfare requirements for pigs during transport and slaughter. Given that these requirements will only become more stringent (according to public opinion polls conducted in 2021, Sweden was one of the countries where the largest number of respondents indicated that they wanted even greater animal welfare), they are now actively working to more closely monitor the conditions of animal transport. Accordingly, the country is ready to increase the staff of its competent authority by the number of veterinarians that would ensure the inspection of each batch of pigs to be transported.
In addition, given that welfare is a harmonious part of the requirements for sustainable animal husbandry, Sweden currently recommends a red meat consumption rate of no more than 350 g per week. For comparison, in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Health recommendations, this figure is 500 g.
Read more about this in the latest issue of Profitable Pig Production magazine №2 (80), April 2024.
The European Union's Erasmus+ international technical assistance project "Sustainable Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare" (SULAWE) brings together scientists from Ukrainian universities Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Poltava State Agrarian University, Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian University, Scientific and Methodological Center for Higher and Pre-Higher Education) and European universities (University of Nürtingen-Geislingen, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and University of Ljubljana) and industry business associations (Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, Association of Milk Producers, Ukrainian Corporation for the Production of Meat on an Industrial Basis "Tvarinprom"). During the project implementation in 2023-2025, representatives of the scientific community and the livestock business association will have the opportunity to adopt the experience of the best European universities in training young specialists and upgrading the qualifications of specialists in livestock enterprises.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European. Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
