Pig Investigation: Germany

German pig farm, 2008

Investigators documented the conditions of a total of 19 farms in two key pig-producing regions; Vechta County in Niedersachsen and Warenberg County in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Farms in Warenberg seemed to use marginally less industrial systems than those in Vechta where production appeared to be on an industrial scale.

• In 79% of German farms visited, a significant number of tail docked pigs were present
• In 89% of German farms visited, there was either no or ineffective environmental enrichment.

German vs European pig industry: The facts

Take action

• Ask the EU to ensure that the EU Pigs Directive is enforced
• Consumers can make a difference by checking labels and demanding higher welfare.