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Pig sector accused of large-scale fraud

22 January 2019 - Wouter Baan - 34 comments

According to Varkens in Nood, 2,3 million more pigs are kept in the Netherlands every year than is officially allowed. The Producers Organization Pig Farming (POV) rejects the claims.

Pigs in Need substantiates the allegation by comparing statistics. According to figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl), the Netherlands produces around 25 million pigs annually (based on the number of pig rights issued).

With the calculation of Pigs in Need, the production comes to 27,3 million pigs, which means that 10% of the production would be illegal. To arrive at this calculation, the organization multiplied, among other things, the number of registered breeding sows by the average number of live born piglets per sow.

Chance of getting caught is small
According to Varkens in Nood, there is also a 'gap' in the export figures: the German import figure is 1 million higher than the Dutch export figure. Pig farmers have a free playing field to cheat, according to Pigs in Nood, as pigs do not have individual ear tags. Since only 2% of the companies are checked, the chances of being caught are small for the entrepreneurs.

The calculation of Pigs in Need is endorsed by Robert Hoste, pig production economist at Wageningen Economic Research. Hoste informs RTL Nieuws that the outcome is not proof that fraud is actually being committed. "We need more evidence for that." The Public Prosecution Service says that dozens of entrepreneurs are convicted every year because they keep more pigs than is allowed.

Allegation is wrong
Linda Janssen, chair of the POV, in turn says that the claim is a misconception, since pig farmers often state the number of stables in the CBS census. In practice, these are not always occupied, which means that the number of breeding sows is actually lower.

Janssen knows that entrepreneurs have been fined for keeping more pigs, but the illegal numbers are much lower than the 2,3 million that Pigs in Need claims.

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Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.
Comments
34 comments
January 10 22 January 2019
This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url=http://www.boerenbusiness.nl/varkens/artikel/10881121/varkenssector-beticht-van-grootschalige-fraude]Pig sector accused of large-scale fraud[/url]
Ridiculous story, of course, but the tone has been set again.
Robot milker 23 January 2019
Hoppa ... now it's your turn AGAIN...
Subscriber
burke Brabant 23 January 2019
I think you don't need rights for piglets with a sow, the number that is with a sow increases a bit every year, if the weaning age also increases, which is the case in many cases, you will quickly have more young piglets lying on your farm, nothing illegal, hopefully linda will be with jinec tonight together with pigs in need to clear up the misunderstanding
Joop 23 January 2019
You can't get away with the drain at all with that fraud. How do you want to do that, keep a number of sows 'black' or double, and count the piglets with other sows. And so, on paper, wean 38 piglets per sow. Don't believe it, I think it's all pretty much boarded up.
jpk 23 January 2019
If pov 's opinion is correct I would start a lawsuit against pigs in distress . There are enough pig farmers who want to participate
Henk 23 January 2019
Not coincidentally, negative in the news every day, tomorrow 24th, Parliamentary debate
animal husbandry.
piglet breeder 23 January 2019
I can understand why everyone weans on paper 30 pigletsx 930.000 sows is that many pigs, but in reality we only deliver 27 fattening pigs per sow. Gap between theory and practice.
We are also always short of piglets.
mf7618 23 January 2019
Then the actual piglet mortality may be a lot lower. If those piglets are all sold black.
Drikus 23 January 2019
Assuming a calculation . This is completely different from piglets or fattening pigs that are actually delivered every week. Not every farmer weaning 30 or more piglets per year per sow and the loss between weaning and selling or laying up in the fattening shed is also different at each farm. Furthermore , as Janssen indicates elsewhere , the farmer specifies the number of sow places that he is allowed to keep max . In technical key figures, the average number of sows present per farm is usually less than the maximum number that can or may be kept. Because when checked , he may not exceed the maximum number of animals to be kept , even if he has had one less period . So going as far as possible is already dangerous . This is also the case with fattening pigs. But if a farmer has better growth and fewer losses and furthermore quickly sets up again, he can deliver more pigs per year on average, whether you deliver 2,5 pigs per year or 2,75 per year a pig per berth makes 10 percent. So one can fool anyone who does not know or does not know these things . As long as a livestock farmer does not exceed the maximum number of animals that can be kept, there is nothing criminal or whatever. People are now probably being punished for good results and working neatly and healthily with animals that perform well and therefore provide a larger supply.
Pig 23 January 2019
A bit strange, there must be something going on again and together with the slaughterhouse something can probably be arranged to keep more pigs There is in any case no conclusive registration for pigs Then frauwde cannot be ruled out but also difficult to prove. So I don't understand the exaggerated reaction to start lawsuits at all. Just wait and see, you will achieve much more with a lawsuit. You can also invoke the schein against you.
Drikus 23 January 2019
Dear Pig what is a conclusive registration in your eyes . Company has an environmental or currently environmental permit. has certain number of pig rights. Must complete agricultural census every year. register or deregister the supply and removal of animals. the other party slaughterhouse or other customer must also even Rendac . These are all things to check . The doors must have your own earmark, so it is not possible to change the company under another company or it will get into difficulties. There will probably be a few companies that don't take it too seriously. These will come to confession sooner or later . Everything can be traced and retrieved. It's not just about counting the animals but . Feed supply and manure removal can also serve as a measure of whether the company has too many animals. If a few farmers keep too many animals, this is certainly not 10% of the supply. And assume that these also run into the lamp and, like some others, face trial. And rightly so . But to come up with some figures so blindly and to condemn an ​​entire industry on the basis of a calculation that shows little knowledge about the pig and livestock sector. If the number of sows remains the same and the number of piglets per sow continues to increase , more piglets will be produced each year , so also more pigs . But if these pigs grow faster they will be able to be fattened on the same number of pig meat places. So , on balance , there are no more pigs per farm if rights are for them alone or they give more piglets or they grow faster and are therefore shorter on the farm .
Farmer Harms 23 January 2019
BREAKING NEWS:
4.274.000 illegal immigrants live in the Netherlands, because we have 7.118.000 in NL
homes with an average of 3 bedrooms; in short 21.354.000 inhabitants!!!
acc. CBS only 17.080.000 people live in the Netherlands. This means that more than 4 million people reside in our country illegally.....
You see, there are so many more important things than those few pigs that make a positive contribution to our circular economy.....
gosh 23 January 2019
Did Robert Hoste provide the figures for pigs in need?
Pig 24 January 2019
dricus,
You can reason nicely but don't think it's that simple.
The registration at rendac is very poorly arranged for pigs and sheep
They have had the problem for years and it is still the case no matter how unfortunate that illegal sex is still taking place abroad
The systems in Europe are not well aligned and the checks are not sufficient in numbers to tackle this problem.
If everything would be properly checked, at least 5000 NVWAers would have to be added and there is no budget for that.
And even if it were ever closed in the Netherlands, you would still have to deal with other countries. Take our neighbors Germany and Belgium, they have no animal rights. As a result, there is not so much inspection.
The Netherlands is at the mercy of animal activists and the sector is not going to win. The farmers in the Netherlands are no longer used to making a fist together Everything has to be arranged at a political level and just watch out the left-wing rascals will win in the next cabinet Then the number of animal places will be more than halved And by the way, even if this If this does not happen, the sector will collapse because foreign farmers can produce much cheaper.
Drikus 24 January 2019
Dear Pig, I don't own any cattle or pigs, etc. And I don't know about you, but you're also kind of an activist. Even if Rendac would not have his affairs in order and some farmers sell black pigs, these numbers are so large that this cannot be 10% of the pig herd. These people start from calculations . Where is the hard evidence. With name by name, numbers , where and when . If you are a farmer with or without animals . Would I rather have you as an enemy in time of war than as an ally . What you say is that livestock farming should be halved or should be removed . Must be very true. But in your story I see more of an error confession than a defense for the farmers . So another soul that is used as an antique farmer. Because your story is more an activist story than an agricultural advertisement
kalf 25 January 2019
WHERE do they get this wisdom then? I would like to know the name of the researcher.
Pig 25 January 2019
Hello Dricus

I am a poultry farmer, arable farmer, sheep farmer, and I also have 2 other companies outside the agricultural sector.
I am quite aware of what is happening in the sector. And NO I'm not an actionist as you say but a realist
The return is sadly bad within the agricultural sector, so bad in fact that there is no future prospects at all.
If you look outside the Netherlands, the return is still good.
The Dutch farmers are killing themselves.
Drikus 25 January 2019
Dear Pig, it is not well with the margins of the farmers. We all know that. But this attack on farmers is what I call it in my view unjust and unprovable . That Rendac , LNV . NVWA, tax authorities, Municipalities and anyone else who has to monitor or process more supervision or regulations, not having their affairs in order is not the fault of the farmers. And an unreliable government that devises the laws and regulations or at least puts them into effect certainly contributes to this. Then this not really substantiated story which is based on calculations is not acceptable. And then in my view one should not put on the fine cloth and say something must be wrong . It will probably be possible to arrange something together with the slaughterhouse, etc. Then provide proof if that is the case. If I were an activist I would seize this and write look they admit it themselves . They have secret agreements for the disposal of the excess animals . And the goat wool socks drivers in The Hague can come up with something again so that the cost price is even higher. In this way the branch will recover without it costing them a cent . But the farmer is not only sucked empty, the average citizen is also kept short. Net a few tens more in pay bag and on balance in VAT increase, health costs, energy, you name it, he or she has lost more than those few tens. So on balance to buy less. What one does not have one cannot spend. Since food is no longer the number 1 in expenditure, it will not get any better for the farmer and prices will remain under pressure and have to compete with foreign food, which is produced under safety requirements and the cost is often lower and that transport over longer distances is still profitable. But that eventually happens in all countries where prosperity is increasing. first there must be food no one should be hungry it should be affordable . So the farmers are encouraged to invest, they earn then go well, so keep more until the market is full. People can then buy food for reasonably low prices and still have money for luxury. Then it shouldn't smell anymore. Hop air washer. Then the animals should have a better life Hop 3 star meat . or free-range egg. grass egg . meadow milk etc. . But the additional costs are not or barely covered. Now too many animals, then everyone will certainly be 10% discount again. Raise the cost price. Give them grist to the mill they will see to it that you go broke . They will soon be eating pig meat from China. These pigs have at least been able to see a little further away from their flat ten high and they can not get sick because the antibiotics are fed with the shovel.
john 26 January 2019
May count is a snapshot

apparently there are more sows on the day of the May census than the year-round average. So vin has actually shown that there are fewer pigs in the Netherlands instead of more. Pigs in Need thank you!
Subscriber
Dirk 26 January 2019
I think everyone is wrong except the pig farmers.
They are very honest, you can believe their blue eyes.
That's how it is. (point)
bemelmans wien 26 January 2019
In the meantime you will get sick of how they want to destroy the farmers here. what a dirty asshole.
Drikus 26 January 2019
Dear Dirk, what is integrity nowadays, throwing arithmetical determination of too many kept animals or do these people not have blue eyes and do not have to come up with evidence. Let them come up with evidence . where , when , by whom etc. Then you convince everyone .
Subscriber
farmer 26 January 2019
We should be happy with these kinds of messages, come up with the truth within a week { task pov/lto} that wipes the report off the table and nos and awake animal lose their credibility with the citizen.
Drikus 26 January 2019
Best boereke the truth is not believed. And the report of what you mean in my opinion is not a report but a calculation based on counts of statements of agricultural count and assumption of the number of weaned piglets per average sow present times the number of sows that are kept or may be kept in the Netherlands. So no report but assumption without proof of where and by whom what is being done wrong . How do you want to prove the truth here then the truth is just the way it is now . Let them come up with proofs of their truth . they don't because they can't. But if you come up with a negative story you always attract attention and that works if you come back regularly. Farmers have long ceased to form a unity and there are some who do not stand up for their cause, see some of the responses. there must be something going on.
Johanvp 26 January 2019
The action of pigs in distress scares farmers, otherwise it has little effect. Good news is not news and that is why these kinds of investigations fit nicely in the news. It says a lot that nowadays more than a third of people turn off the TV or radio when the news section starts, because they find it all too negative and unbelievable. News and media produce in bulk and mainly run on sensation, and have long since lost the status they used to have.
The only thing you can do about all that negative reporting is to tell the real story yourself, and not just afterwards as a defense or reaction. Fortunately, a number of people are already working on this and that will only become more. The truth lasts the longest.
Thon 27 January 2019
It is a drama for the families behind the pig sector.
That the very good sector is being destroyed like this! All those accusations look like mafia practices. This has to be acted upon hard. It should not be the case that smoking, drink and drugs, make the service and bring in the big money.
And the fair food is not paid for! Is society seriously ill?



Subscriber
info 27 January 2019
I see that Robert Horste as the new mafia clubs to which pigs in need and all our animal activists belong, they have the mouth full of someone else who is not doing well, but they themselves drive a car and travel by plane, eat vegetarian, which also comes from the farmer, what grew on animal manure, clean their dishes with the highly polluting cleaning tablets, eat the pill whose hormones eventually end up in the sea via their urine. What an annoying people that becomes, every citizen in these modern times really knows how to make his own choice and responsibility himself, we should not let those kinds of individuals read the bet, I think they are just dumbass of society that mafiozie
??? !!! 27 January 2019
info wrote:
I see that Robert Horste as the new mafia clubs to which pigs in need and all our animal activists belong, they have the mouth full of someone else who is not doing well, but they themselves drive a car and travel by plane, eat vegetarian, which also comes from the farmer, what grew on animal manure, clean their dishes with the highly polluting cleaning tablets, eat the pill whose hormones eventually end up in the sea via their urine. What an annoying people that becomes, every citizen in these modern times really knows how to make his own choice and responsibility himself, we should not let those kinds of individuals read the bet, I think they are just dumbass of society that mafiozie
don't report anything if that doesn't go smoothly sir/madam!
that negates any boating!
Drikus 27 January 2019
Best Info We don't know what their food is and whether they drive or fly. Will be worst of them is their free choice . And yours and us too . If you want to respond then you shouldn't throw stones. Because that doesn't work for anyone. come up with arguments or facts that demonstrate something . They come up with a calculation based on assumptions based on data from censuses and key figures of companies. so they have no proofs. Let them come . But presenting matters that have nothing to do with this case does not strengthen you or the position of the farmer . Asking your stomach for proof that is then not provided makes you and the position of farmers stronger. And we have to bring that out . They do call from see, but they can't show anything that shows the truth. And the rest whether or not they work and not live environmentally conscious, etc. See the well-grounded citizen then also in the long run. But the citizen does not appreciate kicking and pointing the finger. We are talking about too many pigs reared here and the rest is irrelevant here .
Subscriber
Robert Hoste 28 January 2019
Dear Hupsa,
You ask whether I have supplied the figures to Varkens in Nood. It's like this:
Pigs in Need has made a report. RTL approached me for a response to the report, because they felt that Varkens in Nood had certain interests.
I have indicated that I do not support the line of the report. The report starts with the line of thinking that there is fraud, and aims to demonstrate this. I don't think that's right. I also commented on the calculations and showed how I myself try to calculate the animal numbers from the existing statistics. And there was indeed a hole of 2,3 million animals, which I cannot explain. I asked around who could explain that. Nobody.
RTL then asks me for a reaction in front of the camera. My message was and is: Yes I also come to a gap of 2,3 million animals produced; no idea where that comes from. And no, I'm not going to call that fraud because I just don't know. That's all.
You do not know in advance how that will come across to viewers and readers. I answered in good conscience.
Regards,

Robert Hoste.
Drikus 29 January 2019
Dear Robert, if you don't know why that calculation. The numbers have to come from somewhere. And assuming weaned piglets and given up sows at LNV does not seem reliable to me . And where do they want to supply 2,3 million fattening pigs without them being recorded anywhere in the books . Assume that the maximum number of sows that can be kept is specified. But average number has always been slightly lower . Not everyone weaned 30 piglets . And the loss up to delivery as a slaughter pig is also more than 12 % . And assume that business results are cleaned up so that they can be kept in good books at the bank for as long as possible. All calculations are null and void in my opinion because the specified animals and results are probably already higher than reality. And to then accuse people of fraud is just slander of these animal friends.
Piet 1 February 2019
Sow farmers always say 2 piglets production more than reality. They ran it for a month, but not all year round. In order to also look good in their tea parties and study clubs, the technical administration is also cleaned up. So the difference is easy to explain. Bit macho behavior.
Subscriber
burke Brabant 1 February 2019
I still do not understand what the number of pigs in the Netherlands has to do with the number of weaned piglets. a sow including piglets up to approx. 25 kg needs 2.74 pig rights, this applies to a sow that weaned 25 piglets, but also one that weaned more than 30 piglets,
so there is already a wrong thought
Piet 2 February 2019
Read the report boerke, then you will understand. Pigs in Need multiplies the number of sows according to the agricultural census with the number of piglets according to figures from Agrisyst and KWIN. After failure, they thus arrive at the total production, which they again compare with the CBS figures for slaughter and export. After that, they're missing 2,5 million pigs. A few piglets per sow per year (and well, that's just the boast of sow farmers) and some extra information for sows with the count.
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