The new executive order sets the overall direction for reforming sow housing practices during the farrowing period and introduces a 15-year transition period for the phase-out of existing farrowing crates. According to the regulator, this approach is intended to avoid elements of forced expropriation and to give producers sufficient time to adapt.
In addition to the requirement for loose housing, the document establishes minimum space standards. From now on, a sow together with her piglets must have at least 6.5 m² of floor space, of which no less than 3 m² must consist of solid or drained flooring. This, in particular, creates better conditions for the sow to express her natural nest-building behaviour before farrowing.
The new rules are part of the broader animal welfare agreement “Together for Animals,” concluded by the Danish government on February 9, 2024. The agreement lays the foundation for systemic changes in livestock production aimed at improving animal welfare standards and gradually moving away from intensive housing practices.
Industry representatives expect the new requirements to significantly influence the design and modernization of pig farms in the coming years, while Denmark’s experience may serve as a reference point for further changes in EU legislation on pig welfare.
PigUA.info, based on materials from pig333.com