The Animal Welfare and Livestock Management Ordinance, amended in February 2021, has significantly raised the bar for sow-rearing farms. The total duration for which sows may be confined in the production cycle has been reduced to just a few days. In farrowing units, sows may in future be confined in a farrowing crate for no more than five days around the expected farrowing date. Farrowing pens must be at least 6.5 m² in size and provide a sufficiently large lying and resting area for the sow and her suckling piglets. Pig farmers now have 15 years, until February 2036, to adapt to the new requirements, develop plans for the transition and secure the financial resources needed for the costly conversions.

The Schmidle farm in Baden-Württemberg has already taken the step towards a new housing concept ahead of schedule. The new farrowing unit, featuring BeFree exercise pens from Schauer Agrotronic GmbH, has been in operation since 2019. With a floor area of 7 m², the pens exceed the required minimum of 6.5 m². This is also recommended by many experts.

In a video interview with the Fokus Tierwohl network, the two farm managers – senior and junior – speak openly about their experiences with the BeFree farrowing pen and clearly explain what matters in the exercise pen. For although satisfaction with the system is generally high, there were certainly some initial experiences that led to further changes – with a positive effect on the animals and to the satisfaction of the farm managers.