– This concerns animals that are suffering and that have a special need for supervision, care and follow-up, which entails seriousness, says Carl Andreas Grøntvedt. He is a veterinarian, researcher and subject manager for pigs at the Veterinary Institute. In total, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority made 334 decisions after inspections in 582 pig herds across the country. In addition, 115 emergency decisions were made, of which 25 were decisions to euthanize. The Veterinary Institute helped identify the herds that received unannounced visits from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Grøntvedt points out that there is a public regulatory framework that clearly defines the minimum standard for how pig welfare must be safeguarded. These minimum standards do not define optimal conditions, but are minimum requirements. Grøntvedt believes it is serious that so many violations of these minimum requirements are being uncovered. In 56 per cent of the herds, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority uncovered rule violations. Carl Andreas Grøntvedt, veterinarian, researcher and subject manager for pigs at the Veterinary Institute. Photo: Eivind Røhne / Veterinary Institute – It is important that these regulations are followed, which is the animal owner’s responsibility. As the Norwegian Food Safety Authority writes in the report, it is not good enough that violations of the minimum requirements in the regulations are uncovered in about half of the inspections. This view is shared by the Veterinary Institute. Worst in Southern and Western Norway The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s report states where most of the inspections have taken place. 238 of the herds that were checked were in the region south and west. This makes this region the one with clearly the most supervision. At the same time, it is in the region south and west that the most serious findings were made: 83 out of 115 emergency decisions. In 1 out of 3 herds, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority believed that there was too little follow-up of sick and injured animals. The national average was 1 out of 4. 5 out of 5 infringement fees, which you get as a result of repeated breaches of the rules. 2 out of 2 activity bans. 3 out of 5 decisions or notices of compulsory fines. – It’s very serious, it’s about trust. Trust in the industry, trust that the meat we use comes from animals that have had a good life. It’s not good enough. Olaug Bollestad, parliamentary representative for KrF. Photo: Roy Pettersen / news This is what Storting representative Olaug Bollestad (KrF) says. She is a former Minister of Agriculture, and from Rogaland, which is part of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s region south and west. It was also in Rogaland that work began until the Norwegian Food Safety Authority started. news discussed the first results in 2017. The inspections in connection with this last major inspection campaign were carried out in 2021 and 2022. – I am incredibly disappointed. This has been a focus for a long time. There have been both messages, warnings and an increased amount of supervision. Despite that, we have all these deviations, says Bollestad. Dirty pig with swollen eyes. Photo: Norwegian Food Safety Authority Asks farmers’ organizations to take action Bollestad believes it is important that farmers’ organizations take up the problem internally. – If this is not enough, political decisions must be made that set stricter requirements, but this can also bring challenges for the individual farmer. She believes that many of the deviations can be fixed, and that it is important to start with the easiest first. – This includes litter and root material. When farmers save on this, it says something about the expenditure in agriculture right now. High electricity costs, operating costs and interest that make you save on things. We must ensure an agriculture that has finances that can take measures that promote good animal health. Want to learn from others Marit Epletveit, who is the leader of the Rogaland farmers’ association, says they need to look more closely at the reason why this is so. Marit Epletveit, leader of the Rogaland farmers association. Photo: Odin Omland / news – We must enter into a dialogue with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and other regions about what we can learn from them and how we can improve animal welfare. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s region east came out best in the inspection campaign. Rules were broken by 1 in 3 herds, i.e. well below the national average. Epletveit calls the results a burden. – At the same time, we want the best for the animals. Everyone walks into the barn with pride, takes care of the animals as best they can, and tries to improve every day to avoid deviations and to ensure that the animals are well. A pig with an open hole where the tail should have been. The fact that the tail has been bitten down to the root indicates that the pig has been eaten by the other pigs over a long period of time. Photo: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will not tighten the regulations In news’s coverage of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s findings, there were several who now wanted to play the ball to the government. Storting representative Geir Pollestad (Sp), also from Rogaland, believes that there is nothing wrong with the regulations. – It is important not to panic. When there is a breach of the regulations, you have to work to enforce them. I don’t think a solution is to tighten the regulations, he says. Geir Pollestad, parliamentary representative for Sp. Photo: Odin Omland / news He does not use as many words as Bollestad about the findings. He believes the proportion of herds with serious findings has decreased. – I think it is important to say that very many pig farmers are doing well. Compared to the past, there are few herds in which serious discoveries have been made. The pig farmers must keep up the pace and go into the findings thoroughly, Pollestad believes. He believes the industry must use the inspection campaign as learning and motivation. – We should not be satisfied with it, but it is important to put it in perspective. In that sense, there has been a positive development in the industry.
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This is where the Norwegian Food Safety Authority thinks the animal welfare of pig farmers was the worst – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
