Inside: Pigs & Feed
Germans afraid of Dutch piglets
From 2019, the ban on castrating piglets without anesthetic will officially come into effect in Germany. Numerous possibilities are circulating in the corridors, but an unambiguous solution or working method is not yet in sight. German market specialists therefore expect a significant influx of piglets to Germany in 2019.
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According to Roger Fechler, from the German Farmers' Association (DBV), it is logical to expect that significantly more piglets from the Netherlands and Denmark will be imported by German pig farmers from 2019. To prevent the German piglet market from coming under pressure due to the influx of foreign piglets, the interest group is calling for only uncastrated piglets, or piglets castrated in Germany, to be included in the QS System from 2019 - a quality system for the German meat sector - to be allowed.
The concern in Germany is simple to explain. In general, slaughterhouses can handle different types of pigs well. Bear meat may become the norm at supermarkets in Germany, but for foreign markets such as Italy and China, guarantors are popular again. This means that guarantees will probably remain in high demand at German slaughterhouses, even in 2019. Since the anesthetized castration options still vary, it is logical that castrated piglets are more often brought from abroad.
It remains to be seen whether the DBV's plea will be heard by German politicians. In any case, Fechler expects little political support on this point in advance.
By the way, many Dutch piglets are already crossing the border with Germany. Traditionally, Germany is the most important sales market for Dutch piglet exports. In 2016, more than 4,3 Dutch piglets crossed the German border. The export figures vary weekly between 70.000 and 100.000 piglets.