Kosten und Nutzen eines Tierschutzlabels in der Schweinemast

Abstract

Management and housing conditions have an effect on the welfare of feeding pigs, which is why appropriate minimum standards are legally defined. Additional welfare resources such as more space and outdoor runs are associated with more costs. In the study presented here, the costs of the additional requirements are quantified and the effects on the feeding pigs evaluated using examples of the requirements of the welfare label “For more animal protection” and for production under the EU Organic Farming Directive (EU-ecoregulation). The calculations for the welfare label result in additional costs of from 20 to 35 cent per kg slaughter weight in comparison to costs for conventional products. Measures against the figures in the National Evaluation for Animal Housing Systems none of the models evaluated satisfied the highest animal welfare requirements.Management and housing conditions have an effect on the welfare of feeding pigs, which is why appropriate minimum standards are legally defined. Additional welfare resources such as more space and outdoor runs are associated with more costs. In the study presented here, the costs of the additional requirements are quantified and the effects on the feeding pigs evaluated using examples of the requirements of the welfare label “For more animal protection” and for production under the EU Organic Farming Directive (EU-ecoregulation). The calculations for the welfare label result in additional costs of from 20 to 35 cent per kg slaughter weight in comparison to costs for conventional products. Measures against the figures in the National Evaluation for Animal Housing Systems none of the models evaluated satisfied the highest animal welfare requirements.