As part of the ‘Vision 2050’ initiative, Danish livestock farming has set goals to, among other things, double the number of pigs with intact tails in the coming years. According to L&F, the proposed tightening of the already existing ban is therefore unnecessary.
Despite the ban, tails of piglets are still docked in more than 90 percent of cases. The sector has now presented a redistribution program to which all producers contribute a small levy, which is then distributed among farmers who maintain intact tails in piglets. From 2050 onwards, the entire Danish pig population will be required to have curly tails.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is very dissatisfied with the fact that Danish pig companies send many of their pigs abroad for slaughter, thereby neglecting slaughterhouses in Denmark. In a short time, two large slaughterhouses have closed in Denmark, resulting in the loss of about 2,000 jobs.
Prime Minister Frederiksen stated that the agricultural sector itself could ensure that Danish pigs are slaughtered in Denmark rather than abroad. Her remarks came after the Danish opposition asked the prime minister whether she can guarantee that a future CO2 tax on agriculture will not cost jobs.
Frederiksen emphasized that there are other challenges to Danish employment besides the possible introduction of a CO2 tax. She referred to the upcoming ‘own’ Danish animal protection law and EU plans for stricter rules on livestock transport.
‘It is a disgrace for the pigs that have to endure long transports, and I think it is unfortunate for the families that lost their jobs in the now closed Danish slaughterhouses. So if we could have a discussion on the agricultural side to ensure that jobs remain in Denmark, I believe that would be positive,’ she said.