With the 7th amendment to the Animal Welfare and Livestock Husbandry Ordinance (TierSchNutztV)[i], which came into force on 9 February 2021, new requirements apply, among other things, to the housing of sows in farrowing pens. The conventional farrowing crate must be replaced by exercise pens or pens for free farrowing. In the past, the reduction in suckling piglet losses was seen as the main argument for the consistent use of farrowing crates. Other countries where free farrowing has been practised for some time show that, under local conditions – for example, through a good housing environment and calm, maternal sows – crushing losses need not occur. Therefore, the severe restriction of the sows’ movement can no longer be justified.
This guide is primarily intended to assist farmers[1] in implementing the necessary changes on their farms in a practical manner. The scientific findings of recent years, together with the long-standing experience of practitioners, are brought together in this guide to form concrete recommendations for action.
A survey was conducted as part of the Fokus Tierwohl network. The aim was to obtain an overview of the types of pens already in use. Above all, however, the practical experience gathered on farms was to be collated in order to make it available to other farmers and thus support them in meeting the challenges ahead. Some of the responses have been included in this guide as practical experience.
[i] TierSchNutztV (2006): Animal Welfare and Livestock Farming Ordinance in the version published on 22 August 2006 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2043), last amended by Article 1a of the Ordinance of 29 January 2021 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 146).
The guide was produced as part of the ‘Fokus Tierwohl’ network. The ‘Fokus Tierwohl’ project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) as part of the Federal Livestock Farming Programme. This is a joint project involving the Chambers of Agriculture and agricultural institutions from all federal states, with the aim of improving the transfer of knowledge into practice in order to make pig, poultry and cattle farms fit for the future in terms of animal-welfare-friendly, environmentally sound and sustainable livestock farming. For the first time, this network brings together specialist knowledge, organises the exchange of experience between practitioners, scientists, advisers and other groups, and thereby facilitates and promotes knowledge-sharing within the sector.
1 For the sake of readability, the masculine form is used when referring to people in this guide. In the spirit of equal treatment, the corresponding terms apply to all genders. The use of the masculine form is purely for editorial reasons and does not imply any judgement.
Some farms in Germany are already using exercise pens or free farrowing systems and have gained valuable insights in the process. The Pig Welfare Competence Centre of the Fokus Tierwohl network conducted a survey of practitioners on this topic. The aim was to gain an overview of the types of pens already in use. Above all, however, the practical experience gathered on the farms was to be collated so that it could be made available to other farmers, thereby supporting them in meeting the challenges ahead. Some of the responses have been included in this guide as practical experience.