Finland to enhance pig farms conditions

According to Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (Centre), improvements will be implemented in conditions at local pig farms.

Anttila said that the state will start providing investment subsidies for the establishment of new pig farms. Before that, tougher animal welfare rules will be drawn up, and farmers who want to implement them will be entitled to state support.

''The pig farmer will decide whether or not to take the road of better animal welfare, in which case the state will pay for 75% of the extra costs. This is quite a strong incentive'', she said.

A furore over conditions at pig farms arose over a week ago when an animal rights organisation released photographs and videos of pigs being kept in squalid conditions. State veterinarians then conducted inspections at about 30 piggeries, and found shortcomings at 14 of them. Defects included dirty and wet sties, insufficient stimulus for the animals, and inadequate ventilation.

Last year, defects were found at 15% of pig farms in connection with routine inspections.