A high standard of animal welfare is a requirement for modern and sustainable pig farming.

But what is the state of animal welfare in German pig meat production? Data that allows conclusions to be drawn about specific aspects of animal welfare, such as animal losses or ante-mortem inspections, is already being collected. However, there is currently no systematic, nationwide evaluation of this information.

This is where the National Animal Welfare Monitoring scheme, or ‘NaTiMon’ for short, is set to come into play in future, taking into account animal welfare aspects not only in rearing but also during transport and at slaughter. The report is based on regularly collected management, resource and animal-related indicators.

The following benefits are expected to result from the National Animal Welfare Monitoring scheme in future:

• Pig farmers will be able to compare the situation on their farm with the national population of farms and thus better assess the current level of animal welfare in their own livestock management.
• A reliable basis for evidence-based policy decisions is established.
• Consumers can use objective information to form an opinion on animal welfare in German pig farming.
• Scientists can use the results for further research on animal welfare.

In the ‘National Animal Welfare Monitoring’ project, guidelines and manuals were therefore developed for the collection of indicators relating to the rearing of sows and suckling piglets, weaners and fattening pigs. A guideline and a methodology manual were also produced for the collection of indicators concerning the transport, slaughter and disposal of pig carcasses.

In addition to the guidelines, an indicator database offers a quick and easy way to find information on individual indicators for the respective production stage in pig farming:

Literature database on animal welfare indicators (ktbl.de)

The significance and informative value of the individual indicators are illustrated in an initial model report.

Although the foundations for national animal welfare monitoring have now been laid by the ‘NaTiMon’ project, further steps must be taken before the first results report is published. These include, for example, establishing a legal framework and a suitable infrastructure. To this end, the project consortium has drawn up a six-point plan for implementation.