Quality assurance and tail docking Bert van den Berg, program manager farm animals

Dutch society for the Protection of Animals Society. 160,000 members 4 regions. 30,000 volunteers 350 employees, 70 in head office Member Eurogroup for Animals

Comes up for all animals Informing the public Helping animals in need Talk/ lobby industry and authorities Involved in projects

View Dutch SPA on livestock farming Insufficient attention for animal welfare Main obstacle for improvement: Extreme cost price driven Possible solutions: legislation, innovations and market concepts

Dutch SPA strategy livestock farming Push, Pull and Squeeze Push for higher minimum legislation Pull to enlarge market share top level Squeeze to set up market segments in between

Push for higher minimum legislation Legal standards are low: compromise EU 28. Bottle neck: implementation and enforcement. Market distortion for complying farmers/ states. Push for higher industry standards. Difficult, but if it succeeds: better enforcement and payment.

Pull to enlarge market share top level Organic and comparable systems. Top welfare, small niches In Netherlands 1% of 450 million animals annually We want to stand up for the other 99% too!

Squeeze in between Set up segments in between regular and organic under label. Not new, did it in 80’s with barn eggs and veal from group housed calves. Both with supermarket Albert Heijn.

Three levels of Better Life label Slower growing broiler breeds. Pigs with more space, distraction no castration. Calves with more roughage, no anaemia. Free range laying hens and broilers. Pigs and calves with straw and access outdoor. Organic and comparable animal welfare.

Response retail and industry In the past hardly marketing on welfare for it is never enough. With a label on pack of the SPA retailers / food processors dare. Growing competition on sustainability including animal welfare. The largest retailers started in 2009, others follow. Fresh pork 1 star basic in AH, Jumbo, Plus, Lidl. Aldi follows.

Results Better Life so far In 2015: 20 million animals 1200 farmers 300 food processors 18 supermarkets

Tail docking Within 7 days of age with a (hot) wire. Pain during and a few days after. Stub stays sensible. Done to prevent tail biting, inflammation and economic loss. Fighting symptoms. Covers up shortcomings in pig farming. Disrespect intrinsic value and impairs physical integrity.

E.g. stress factors leading to biting Problems in climate. Insufficient enrichment. Stocking density too high. Health problem. Shortcomings or change in feed.

Most pigs in regular systems Little space, insufficient enrichment, (partly) slatted floor, food competition, etc.. Transfer to better systems very costly and time consuming. In meantime help to adjust present systems where possible to reduce biting.

Tails in Better Life scheme 2 and 3 stars: more space, straw bed, access outdoor Tail docking not allowed   1 star: close to regular farming, but some improvements. Docking still allowed after risk assessment. Tails are kept a bit longer.

More space Absolute: 0.3  0.4m2, 0.65  1m2 Relative: larger groups More feeding and drinking places to reduce food competition.

Normal social behaviour Young animals need more space to learn normal social behaviour.

Better enrichment Only chain not enough Straw difficult because of slurry system. Small groups (8-20) e.g. straw tube, rope. Large groups (>20) straw.

Climate Check ventilation system every 5 year. Climate check if pigs are dirty.

The road to end tail docking Industry and competent authorities have to join forces. Urgently apply research results and available scientific evidence. Urgently set up projects with farmers and cover their risks. Value added schemes should introduce proven measurements.

Conclusion Private quality assurance schemes can play a role in market-driven improvement of pig welfare, but competent authorities and industry remain responsible for implementation and enforcement of the minimum EU legal requirements.

Thanks for your attention