Under the new rules, from 2029 it will no longer be permitted to confine sows in breeding (AI) areas, and from 2035 free-farrowing pens must become the standard. ISN notes that a significant share of producers are not financially prepared for these costs and are considering leaving the business. The union therefore calls on both the federal and state governments to provide support and deliver practical, feasible solutions to help farmers meet the deadlines.
The ISN survey included 244 pig farms, which on average keep around 400 sows (above the national average of 295 sows per farm). Respondents estimated that converting breeding (AI) areas would require an average investment of €278,000 per farm (about €696 per sow place), while upgrading farrowing facilities could cost €1.35 million (around €3,157 per sow place). Overall, farms that still need to convert both sections would require roughly €1.6 million, or nearly €4,000 per sow place, a figure ISN attributes to the sharp rise in construction costs in recent years.
At the same time, ISN warns that uncertainty about future operations remains high: 59% of producers have not yet taken action to modernise breeding areas, and in the farrowing segment, nearly half of farms may stop production once the conversion of farrowing barns becomes unavoidable.
PigUA.info based on pigprogress.net