Please select a type of husbandry to obtain more information.

This is how pigs live in indoor housing

In “indoor housing”, every animal has between 0.5 and 1 square metre space at its disposal, depending on the weight class. Pigs with a weight of 30-50 kg have 0.5 m² space at their disposal, at 50-110 kg 0.75 m², at over 110 kg 1 m². The animals live in closed warm areas. These are the minimum legal requirements for pig farming. The animals have organic and fibre-rich occupational material at their disposal, e.g. wood-shavings or straw.

This is how pigs live in indoor housing+space

There are two versions of “indoor housing+space”. Common traits of both versions: the pigs live in closed or mainly closed warm areas and in comparison to “indoor housing”, they have at least 12.5 percent more space at their disposal. Pigs with a weight of 30-50 kg have 0.563 m² space at their disposal, at 50-110 kg 0.844 m², at over 110 kg 1.125 m². All pigs have organic and fibre-rich occupational material at their disposal (e.g. wood-shavings or straw) as well as additional coarse fodder (e.g. hay or straw).

Version 1

Inside the housing, the pens are structured to include different elements, such as partitions, contact grids, different levels, areas with different temperatures or lighting conditions, suitable scratching brushes, drinkers with open water surfaces or a soft or bedded lying area.

Version 2

The pigs always have outdoor runs at their disposal so that they can sense weather influences and the environment. The above-mentioned size requirements apply to the total area of the sty and of the outdoor run.

This is how pigs live in indoor housing with fresh air

In “indoor housing with fresh air”, the animals have access to different climatic areas. There are two versions of “indoor housing with fresh air”:

Version 1

Within their housing, pigs are able to be in permanent contact with the outdoor climate: all animals have access to different climatic areas at all times. Pigs with a weight of 30-50 kg have 0.7 m² space at their disposal, at 50-110 kg 1.3 m², at 110-120 kg 1.3 m², at over 120 kg 1.5 m². On 7 July 2023, the Bundesrat did not agree to the Eighth Ordinance on the Amendment of the Animal Welfare - Farm Animal Husbandry Ordinance (8th Amending Ordinance), which means that the floor space requirements could be lowered unless there are animal-welfare reasons to the contrary, while the minimum legal standards must be adhered to. All pigs have organic and fibre-rich occupational material (e.g. wood-shavings or straw) at their disposal.

Version 2

Mainly closed warm areas with outdoor runs are also considered as “indoor housing with fresh air” if the total floor space of the sty and of the outdoor runs meets the following size requirements: pigs with a weight of 30-50 kg have 0.7 m² space at their disposal, at 50-110 kg 1.1 m², at 110-120 kg 1.1 m², at over 120 kg 1.4 m². The pigs always have outdoor runs at their disposal so that they can sense weather influences and the environment. All pigs have organic and fibre-rich occupational material (e.g. wood-shavings or straw) at their disposal.

This is how pigs live in outdoor runs/pasture

At least 50 percent more space in comparison to “indoor housing” and open-air access at all times – these are the characteristics of “outdoor runs/pasture”.

There are two versions of “outdoor runs/pasture”

Version 1: outdoor runs

In the “outdoor runs” version, the animals have open-air access and can use a bedded lying area (e.g. cushioned with straw), in addition to mainly closed warm areas. In comparison to “indoor housing”, the minimum legal standard, the pigs have at least 50 percent more space at their disposal. Pigs with a weight of 30-50 kg have 0.5 m² space at their disposal as well as 0.25 m² outdoor runs, at 50-110 kg 1.0 m² as well as 0.5 m² outdoor runs, at 110-120 kg 1.0 m² as well as 0.5 m² outdoor runs, at over 120 kg 1.5 m² as well as 0.8 m² outdoor runs. All pigs have organic and fibre-rich occupational material (e.g. wood-shavings or straw) at their disposal.

Version 2: pasture

“Pasture” means that the pigs live outdoors all year round, without any fixed housing. Outdoors, they can use protective structures including lying areas. All pigs have organic and fibre-rich occupational material (e.g. wood-shavings or straw) at their disposal.

This is how pigs live in the organic housing system

In comparison to “indoor housing”, the minimum legal standard, the pigs have at least 150 percent more space at their disposal. Pigs with a weight of 35-50 kg have 0.8 m² space at their disposal as well as 0.6 m² outdoor runs, at 50-85 kg 1.1 m² as well as 0.8 m² outdoor runs, at 85-110 kg 1.3 m² as well as 1 m² outdoor runs, at over 110 kg 1.5 m² as well as 1.2 m² outdoor runs.

The requirements of the EU legal framework for organic husbandry apply – e.g. straw or other organic litter and a minimum suckling period of 40 days. The use of veterinary drugs is strictly regulated – chemically synthesised veterinary drugs including antibiotics may be administered under strict conditions and under the control of a veterinarian if treatment with herbal veterinary drugs and other products is inappropriate.

In general, organically kept pigs are fed with 100 % organically produced feedstuffs. 30 percent of feedstuffs must come from the same establishment or – if not possible – from the same region. If it is confirmed that organic protein feed is not available in sufficient quantities, piglets under 35 kg may only be fed with a maximum of 5 percent of non-organic protein feed since for young animals, the intake of essential amino acids is of particular importance during this phase.

Labelling of mixed products

If one packaged product contains several foodstuffs subject (at least partially) to labelling requirements or if the product in question is a "mixed” product such as minced meat, the respective percentages of the respective husbandry types must be indicated to the nearest 5 percent. There are some exceptions where it is not necessary to indicate the specific percentages, for example, if one type of husbandry accounts for at least 80 % of the foodstuff or packaged product, then only this husbandry type needs to be indicated.