Changes in the pig holding rules

The EU regulation that prohibits the sows to be kept in isolation – will enter into force in  January 2013 – will only affect less than 50 affected pig farms in Hungary.

Pig breeders should introduce several new animal welfare measures. One of them is that larger area should be provided to the sows, and they should be kept in groups – said Menczel Lászlóné, secretary of the Livestock and Meat Marketing Interprofessional Organization and Product Board (VHT).

She added that the conditions of sow holding are much better in Hungary than in several large EU member states. Of about only 10 percent of the 210 thousand sows are kept in conditions that are not appropriate with the  rules, that will enter into force in January 2013.

One survey found that 47 pig farms will be affected by the changes, but the conditions at these plants are expected to be adequate for the beginning of next year. (MTI)