February 1, 2021

German organisations recommend US$4.85 surcharge per animal for castrated piglet

Germany's Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture (LWK) and the Livestock and Meat Producers' Association (VEZG) have recommended a surcharge of at least €4 (US$4.85) per castrated male piglet.

At the latest meeting between the price quotation advisory council of LWK and the piglet marketing working group of VEZG, both organizations discussed how piglets from the North-West of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia should be quoted. After the end of the transition period of the new German Animal Welfare Act, the VEZG's price recommendation will be adjusted to the new marketing situation.

Experts on the advisory board estimate that the majority of piglets finished in Germany will continue to be castrated in order to meet the market requirements for slaughter pigs.

Since January 1, 2021, piglets castrated under anesthesia in accordance with the new Animal Welfare Act receive a surcharge of €2 (US$2.43) per animal if they are sold in a batch with a balanced male/female ratio. This means that a surcharge of at least €4 per castrated male piglet should be paid to compensate piglet producers for the additional costs resulting from castration under anesthesia.

- Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture (Germany)