For consumers, improved animal welfare is mandatory. It's an unwritten rule. Consumers want disclosure of pork farming conditions and the associated adequate labeling. In this article, we'll explain more about pig farming .
Types of husbandry: stable, run or free-range?
The German government publishes its annual nutrition report, which describes Germans' food-related behavior. As early as 2023 and 2024, consumers were concerned about the quality and husbandry of meat . This trend will continue in 2025.
But what constitutes good husbandry? What are the legal requirements? What kind of husbandry do farmers follow? And is it just about space, or do roughage, genetic engineering, and bedding also play a role? We'll explore these questions now and explain everything about pig husbandry. We also have a comprehensive video on the subject here .
Husbandry type 1
Traditional housing, also known as conventional animal husbandry, is level 1. Depending on the pig 's weight class, each pig has between 0.5 and 1 m² of space at its disposal. This is also the legal minimum standard.
The animals must have access to organic, fiber-rich materials, such as straw or sawdust. You can find a detailed video about this here .
Husbandry type 2
The next level is Stable + Space. This increases the space for the pigs by 12.5%, giving the pigs more room in the stable. But there are two variants.
Variant 1: The stable is divided into various elements. This includes partition walls, different temperature and lighting conditions, as well as resting areas and drinking troughs.
Option 2: The pigs have access to an outdoor area at all times.
The animals must have access to organic, fiber-rich materials, such as straw or sawdust. You can find a detailed video about this here .
Husbandry type 3
Level 3 housing is referred to as a fresh-air stable. Here, too, there are two variants.
Option 1: There is the possibility of permanent contact with the outside climate and access to different climate zones
Variant 2: These are predominantly closed, warming stables with outdoor access.
The animals must have access to organic, fiber-rich materials, such as straw or sawdust. You can find a detailed video about this here .
Husbandry type 4
Housing level 4 is open-air and pasture. Here, the pigs have at least 50% more space than in the stable system and can go outside at any time. They also have a straw-bedded resting area.
Another option would be to allow the pigs to be outdoors permanently and not have a permanent stable. However, this would require a protective enclosure with a resting area.
The animals must have access to organic, fiber-rich materials, such as straw or sawdust. You can find a detailed video about this here .
Husbandry type 5
The highest form of husbandry is organic. Pigs have 150% more space than in a traditional barn. This requires special organic feed from the farm or the region, strict medication regulations, and a designated outdoor area.
The animals must have access to organic, fiber-rich materials, such as straw or sawdust. You can find a detailed video about this here .
The correct way of keeping pigs
Now that we've clarified the different levels of husbandry, let's move on to the form we advocate: the active stable. We're working with farmer Michael Schneider . Michael owns an active stable, and it has many advantages. You can find a comprehensive video about it here .
The active stable
Michael's active barn is roughly divided into two areas: an indoor and an outdoor area. There, the pigs have enough space to move freely while still being able to go outside at any time. There are also resting areas, a defecating area, and different climate zones. The pigs also have open feeding and drinking troughs.
There's also straw and toys for the animals. Michael also explains to us that the barn is designed so that he could switch to organic farming at any time. Legally, we would be at least at husbandry level 3. However, this cannot be clearly defined, as the options and conditions could range between 3 and 5.
The pigs thrive in the active stable. They live a completely stress-free life, free to romp and root around as they please, giving them the opportunity to indulge their natural instincts.
And that's a good thing. Animal welfare isn't just good for the pig , it also affects the quality of the meat . Stress, in particular, reduces the quality of the meat . Thus, animal welfare also has a direct impact on the consumer. But what about free-range farming?
Free-range farming
Outdoor pig farming isn't necessarily what you might initially expect. The typical image of pigs roaming a green meadow is a misconception. Pigs wallow and root, which is why they quickly dig up the land. This has its disadvantages.
Not only can pigs cause long-term pollution of the soil, groundwater, and thus the environment, but the animals' safety and health are also at risk. Pigs can quickly become ill or even fall victim to predators.
In a stable, they can be better monitored and protected. At the same time, the animals can be separated from the herd for a short time so they can recover, because pigs reject sick animals.
But there are also economic disadvantages. The land use for outdoor pig farming is so enormous that it wouldn't be profitable for farmers. Purchasing power isn't strong enough.
It also competes with the cultivation of grains and vegetables. Important: Not all soil is suitable for growing food for humans. Soil composition determines the food crops. Approximately 61% of agricultural land in Germany is used for animal feed. This is largely due to the poor quality of the soil.
Conclusion
An active stable is a relatively new concept that offers significant advantages. Depending on the design, such a stable falls between the legal housing levels 3 and 5.
The barn ensures animal welfare while also offering the animals security and protection from disease. The pigs can also pursue their natural behavior in the barn, thus increasing the quality of the meat . This is a benefit that benefits not only the animals, but also consumers and farmers.
The active barn is a concept we can absolutely support, and we hope that this concept will play a larger role in pig farming in the future. You can find a comprehensive video about it here .
