On-farm self-monitoring of animal welfare - feasibility, setting of an assessment framework and technical electronic implementation (EiKoTiGer)
In order to provide pig farmers with a reliable assessment, existing animal welfare indicators are being reviewed and further developed under the coordination of the Association of Technology and Structures in Agriculture (KTBL) e.V.. These indicators are based on objective observations made directly on the animal - such as behavior, body condition or mobility - and offer important insights into the welfare of pigs.
The focus is on animal-based indicators that directly assess the condition of the animals. These differ from resource and management-based indicators, which primarily examine the structural and technical conditions for animal-friendly husbandry, but only allow indirect conclusions to be drawn about animal welfare.
Since 2014, pig farmers have been legally required to carry out regular self-inspections on their farms. The aim is to record and evaluate animal-based characteristics in order to identify potential animal welfare issues at an early stage and take timely corrective action. The self-inspection does not replace the daily animal checks but rather complements it - especially in terms of the long-term evaluation and continuous improvement of animal welfare.
The project aims to test and further develop the animal welfare indicators from the KTBL guideline "Animal Welfare Indicators for Practice - Pigs" in collaboration with pig farmers, with a focus on their suitability for practical use. In addition to applicability, the project also examines the reliability of the indicators was also assessed – specifically, whether different people arrive at comparable results when assessing the same animal. Only then can the indicators be considered objective and meaningful.
In addition, a reference framework with target and alarm values is being developed for sows, suckling piglets, weaned piglets and fattening pigs. This framework helps pig farmers better interpret the results of their self-monitoring and, if necessary, derive appropriate measures to improve the animal welfare on their farms.
Project results:
The following tools are available to support the practical recording and assessment of animal welfare in pig farming:
- Animal Welfare Indicators: Practical Guide - Pig
- Online training course on animal welfare indicators for pigs
- Excel® tool for collecting animal welfare indicators in pig housing
- Orientation framework with target and alarm values for the classification of on-farm self-assessment data:
Further Information on practical animal welfare assessment can be found on the KTBL website under “Evaluate animal welfare”
To the explainer video “On-farm self-assessment”
Project partners:
- Association for Technology and Structures in Agriculture e.V. (KTBL) (Overall coordination)
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (Pigs)
- Thünen Institute of Organic Farming, Animal Welfare Working Group (Cattle)
- University of Kassel, Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry Section (Poultry)
