Information on pig farming in outdoor climate-controlled stables is met with great interest among farmers.
Over 300 participants listened attentively to the experience reports from two practical operations.
On 17 February 2021, an event on the topic of "Outdoor climate stables – a stable system with a future?" took place as part of the "Focus on Animal Welfare" project. Over 300 participants listened attentively to the experience reports from two practical farms.
Henrik Ohlendorf from the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture began by talking about different alternative housing systems in pig farming. He discussed various new construction options, such as crate or deep litter housing. Another example was pig ports. He also pointed out the conversion options available for existing fattening stables so that pigs can have access to outdoor climate stimuli. He reported on various options for designing outdoor areas for pig stables.
Malin Speckmann, also from LWK NRW, then provided information about construction subsidies and current marketing programmes for meat from pigs raised in outdoor climate-controlled stables. She presented various programmes and the associated requirements. These include the Strohwohl programme from REWE West, the Kaufland Wertschätze programme, Fairfarm from Aldi/Tönnies, BauernLiebe (Edeka/Rasting) and the Brand slaughterhouse.
The second part of the online event was filled with practical insights from pig farmers Christine and Christoph Spellerberg and Marianne and Klaus Albersmeier. The farm managers at Spellerberg Farm provided valuable tips on barn planning. They reported on their experiences with the construction of their new open-air, straw-bedded piglet rearing barn. They referred to construction plans and illustrative pictures and provided vivid insights into the construction phase in 2020. In 2019, the Spellerbergs expanded their waiting barn, which is also operated as a deep litter system, to include an outdoor run.
After being reared at the Spellerberg farm, the piglets are transported four kilometres to Hüttinghausen and fattened at the Albersmeier farm. Marianne and Klaus Albersmeier have completely converted their farm in the past. Conventional fully slatted stables have been replaced by straw stables with outdoor runs. After Marianne Albersmeier had presented the farm with its various pillars, Klaus Albersmeier took the audience on an exciting journey through the farm's development. He explained the numerous conversion measures using a series of pictures. With great commitment and a lot of personal effort, all the stables were extended to include outdoor runs to give all the pigs access to the outdoor climate.
The audience's keen interest was evident in the many questions and lively discussion that followed the presentations.
Authors: Viola Erfkämper and Johannes Heer, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture