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The scheme has just been launched following a tender round, and interest has been high. According to the Danish Agriculture & Food Council’s Pig Sector, there have already been commitments for 500,00 additional pigs with intact tails.
The number of pigs with intact tails is set to double over the next three years, which means that by 2028, four million Danish pigs will be produced with intact tails. This is a sub-goal of the Danish pig industry’s Vision 2050. The first goal is 1 million with intact tails by 2026. Many pig producers and piglet suppliers have taken part in the trial project, 'a joint effort to preserve intact tails' to see whether preventing tail docking is realistic.
Danish pig producers will be able to receive DKK 50 in compensation per pig produced with an intact tail. In addition to the compensation itself, a producer network is being planned to enable members to exchange experiences on everything from fitness for transport to the handling of tail biting. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is involved in the dialogue as transport and assessing injuries can be challenging.
The scheme was developed by the industry, became part of the political animal welfare agreement in February 2024, and has since been given the go-ahead by the EU Commission. In the autumn, the Board of the Pig Levy Fund (a fund to which a fee is paid for every slaughtered pig) will handle the next steps.
September 29, 2025/ Agriculture and Food/ Denmark. https://agricultureandfood.co.uk
