Denmark is going to tackle tail docking

Esben Lunde Larsen, the Danish Minister of Agriculture, is not satisfied with animal welfare in pig farming. A third of the companies did not comply with the rules in recent years. The minister also wants to reduce the number of pigs with docked tails.

According to the Danish Veterinary and Food Service, rules are mainly being violated in the field of distraction material in the stable and the handling of sick animals. Lunde Larsen is dissatisfied with the progress made by the Danish pig sector in 2017 in terms of animal welfare. In 2018, therefore, the focus will be more on safeguarding animal welfare.

Tackle tail docking
The minister also wants to tackle tail docking in piglets. According to the minister, the number of pigs with docked tails is far too high. To bring the number down, the rules are tightened.

In the future, pig farmers may only dock if they can demonstrate in writing that alternative measures for tail biting do not work. 

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is Head of Meat & Dairy at BoerenbusinessAt DCA Market Intelligence, he focuses on dairy, pork, and meat markets. He also monitors (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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