After the face-to-face network meetings planned for October 2021 could not take place for various reasons, around 20 pioneering farms met on 16 November 2021 for a collegial exchange.

At this meeting, farm manager Jan-Martin Griefahn from Lower Saxony presented his conventional fattening barn.

The main fattening area is a double-comb barn, with each compartment able to hold 120 animals. The original plan of six pens per compartment was changed during the construction phase, so that each compartment now has four pens. According to current guidelines, 30 animals can be kept per pen. The animals are fed using a liquid feeding system.

Mr Griefahn was responsible for pig farming (sows, piglets, fattening) on an organic farm for 12 years. For him, it is clear that animals cope very well with outdoor climate if they are offered draught-free places to retreat to. With the opportunity to take over his parents' farm, he now has the exciting chance to change the fattening barn to improve animal welfare and (if possible) provide an outdoor climate.

Mr Griefahn then asked the participants what changes he could implement in his barn.

Farm managers who had already implemented many changes in the fattening sector themselves provided numerous tips and assistance. A lively discussion ensued.

The following aspects were highlighted:

• The aim of all changes to the barn should be to be able to supply marketing level 4 in future. This includes, among other things, providing 1.5 m^² per animal and outdoor access.
• The long-term goal should be to keep long-tailed animals.
• Heating, as currently available, will no longer be necessary in an "animal welfare barn". The animals need draught-free areas that they can heat themselves if necessary.
• Occupational material (in the form of roughage) must be provided. To this end, the slats must be closed (at least partially). Some colleagues advised replacing individual full slats with closed elements. This has proven to be more effective than "interim solutions" (closing the slats or covering them with rubber mats/metal plates).
• The outdoor area should be covered (unless working in accordance with the EC Organic Regulation). Here, too, plans must be made for how to separate faeces and urine.

Reference was also made to the DLG information sheet "Structuring of pens in piglet rearing and pig fattening". Many examples can be found there. In addition, some farm managers extended invitations to visit their own solutions on site.

With these and many other tips, Jan-Martin Griefahn was sent off into the upcoming renovation phase. Whether an outdoor run for his barn can actually be realised may need to be clarified by an emissions assessment.

Author: Dr Christian Lambertz, FiBL Deutschland e.V.