The initiative comes from the German Cattle and Pig Breeders' Association (BRS), the German Farmers' Association (DBV), the German Raiffeisen Association (DRV), and the German Pig Producers' Association (ISN). They stress that the new animal welfare requirements significantly exceed the standards of most European competitors and require substantial investment.
In particular, by 2029 farms must switch to group housing for sows with a minimum space of 5 m² per animal, and by 2036 introduce free farrowing systems with at least 6.5 m² and a maximum confinement period of five days. According to industry estimates, these upgrades will cost around €4,000 per sow, meaning investments of up to €1.5 million for medium-sized farms — without any guarantee of increased revenue.
In many cases, compliance can only be achieved by reducing herd sizes, which contradicts food security objectives. As a result, there is a risk that piglet production could shift abroad.
The associations propose a unified national programme with funding of around €200 million annually until 2036 and covering up to 50% of investment costs. Key principles include accessibility for all producers regardless of size, no restrictions on upgrading existing facilities, and minimal bureaucracy.
Industry representatives emphasize that without systematic government support, German pig farming could face a “structural collapse,” while fragmented regional schemes would fail to provide the stability and predictability needed for investment.
PigUA.info based on euromeatnews.com