Swedish government rolls out new pig action plan
It plots an increase in national annual pig production from 2.6 to four million animals.
The plan was presented by agriculture minister Eskil Erlandsson to 30 representatives from pig nutrition, meat trade and farming organisations in Stockholm on 9 June.
The plan is also designed to bolster the sale of Swedish pigmeat on both domestic and international markets, promoting the production of the "highest quality" pigmeat, using high animal care standards as a marketing tool.
"Becoming more competitive is a key objective in the plan. Raising pig production numbers will help achieve this goal. Sweden should at least aim to reach a level equal to our annual consumption, and that is four million pigs," said Erlandsson at a news conference later.
The plan includes a ‘farm excellence scheme’ to strengthen piggery standards in general, especially animal husbandry. Under this plan, the castration of piglets without anaesthetics would be banned from January 2016. Farmers can use government grants to purchase and administer anaesthetics, according to the plan.
