Saxony pigs with tails earn valuable bonus

Pig farmers in the German state of Lower Saxony can now earn a premium of €16.50 per pig if their tails are intact.

In a move designed to improve animal welfare, Lower Saxony’s agricultural ministry in Hanover, will also introduce a premium of €1.70 per bird for the poultry industry, if it gives up beak trimming.

Over one third, or about 28 million, of Germany’s pig herd is in the state of Lower Saxony in the country’s northwest.

Agriculture minister Christian Meyer said the premium of €16.50 is available from this week for pigs delivered to the slaughterhouse with entire tails, not docked or bitten.

Pig farmers can apply for the premium for up to 1,000 animals per farm per year.

But at least 70% of all animals should have entire tails.

And simultaneous rearing of pigs with and without tails in a group is not allowed.

A fund of €28 million has been created for the entire tail premium, from a budget for rural development partly funded by the EU.

Meyer’s initial plan to completely ban tail docking has been abandoned.