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project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group

Tail Challenge

Contacts
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Ongoing | - Netherlands
Ongoing | - Netherlands
Project details
Main funding source
CAP Strategic Plans 2023-2027 for Operational Groups
Additional funding source
No additional funding source
Project contribution to EU Strategies
Improving animal welfare
Territorial scope
National

Budget information

EUR 500 000.00
Total contribution
EAFRD contribution
EUR 500 000.00

  • EAFRD contribution EUR 500 000.00
    100%

Project keyword

1 Practice Abstracts


Biting in pigs occurs primarily due to boredom, insufficient stimulation and frustration. Preventing the unwanted biting behavior of pigs requires a broad farm approach, because often there is not exclusively 1 reason for the biting behavior. Housing must be sufficiently challenging. Pigs must be healthy and the diet must meet the nutritional needs of pigs. In addition, stopping docking is not the challenge, it is the challenge.

Because Jumbo and Best Star Meat Pork (BSMP) are both committed to making the pork chain more sustainable, “The First Mover” project was launched in 2022. And during 2023, experience was gained with pigs with long tails. This project “Tail Challenge‘’ fits seamlessly with The First Mover project. The farm inventory and risk factors that have been identified are now being converted into a plan of action and farm adaptations. Further research is also being conducted into the processing of pigs with uncut tails in order to support the pig farmer's earnings model.

A decision tree is being developed that will support pig farmers in making a decision on what measures can be taken if tail-biting occurs on the farm. In addition to professional measures, it also includes psychosocial aspects. How can a pig farmer best deal with social pressure, fear of failure and/or negative feedback?

Every month from the start of the project, the farm veterinarian of the participating farms will register the damage to the pigs' tails using a form in web application VOB-online. To monitor the length of the pigs' tails, Marel's current software used at slaughterhouses will be additionally programmed to visualize and thus measure the tail length of the pigs at the slaughter line.

Contacts

Project coordinator

  • Project coordinator

    Best Star Meat Pork B.V. vdijkman@beststarmeat.com Postbus 1229 4700BE ROOSENDAAL Processor or retailer

Project partners

  • Project partner

    Maatschap Gaikhorst gaikhorst@agroweb.nl Hoefkensestraat 1, 6996 DS DREMPT Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    Compaxo Vlees Zevenaar B.V. compzev@wxs.nl Edisonstraat 48, 6902 PK ZEVENAAR Processor or retailer

  • Project partner

    Maatschap D. van Dijk en O.M. van Dijk-Hooijer dick@veehouderij-dijk.nl Voskuilerweg 58, 3931 MX WOUDENBERG Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    R.A.W. Derksen info@rawderksen.nl Fuukweg 9, 6942 PN DIDAM Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    Tienhoven Breeding vdijkman@beststarmeat.com Lekdijk 20, 4235 VL TIENHOVEN AAN DE LEK Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    Varkensbedrijf Buut'n Gewoon sales@agrisyst.com Oude Rijksweg 478 a 6, 7954 GE Rouveen Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    Maatschap P. en G. en H.P. Keizer mhouben@beststarmeat.com Schobbertsweg 3, 8166 KK EMST Farmer, farm worker

  • Project partner

    Schippers Europe B.V. klantenservice.nl@schippers.eu Smaragdweg 60, 5527 LB HAPERT Farmer, farm worker