In 2019, planned sampling-based animal welfare inspections were ordered to be carried out on 421 farms with production animals, which is slightly less than in 2018. The inspections were particularly focused on sheep farms. 379 farms were inspected, of which 345 had animals present at the time of the inspection. Non-compliance with animal welfare regulations was observed in 30% of farms, which is almost twice as many as in the previous year. The proportion of non-compliance clearly increased in cattle, sheep and pigs. This is partly due to the fact that inspections have been better targeted at farms at risk.
Cattle
A total of 171 of the cattle farms inspected had animals present. Non-compliances were found in 34% of farms; almost three times as many as in 2018 (11%). 30% of all non-compliances in cattle farms involved calves (2018 44%). The most common violations concerning the care of calves have remained the same from year to year and involved mainly the requirements for cleanliness and safety as well as the requirements for space on the holding as was the case in 2019. In 2019, no single violation stood out.
Even in older cattle (over six months of age), no particular violations stood out. On 8% of the inspected farms the cattle did not have clean and dry bedding (2% in 2017). On nine per cent of the farms there were deficiencies in general animal health, welfare and cleanliness, and inadequate hoof care was discovered on five per cent of the farms, i.e. more than in previous years (1.4% in 2018). On five farms the requirement for cows and heifers that were kept tied up to have access to pasture or an exercise yard was neglected. Most of the violations observed with both calves and adult cattle were directly related to factors that affected the welfare of the animals, as the share of deficient record keeping was 4% of all violations.
Sheep and goats
Non-compliance in sheep farms (99) increased to 20% of the previous year (0%). The average number of non-compliances per holding was 3.7. The most common violations found related directly to the requirements for animal welfare. There were violations relating to the cleanliness of the premises and the condition and safety of the buildings and equipment at the premises on 15 farms. There was insufficient care taken with regard to animal health, general welfare and cleanliness on nine farms. There were violations regarding adequate supplies of water or suitable feed on nine farms. In six farms, sheep were not herded in at least once a year or their hooves were not checked frequently enough. Record keeping shortcomings accounted for 14% of all violations.
None of the five goat farms inspected had any non-compliances.
Fur animals
31 farms were inspected, and deficiencies were found in 35%. This is slightly less than in 2018 (37%). The average number of breaches per farm was 3.6, which is more than in the previous year (2.3). The most common deficiencies observed were directly related to the requirements for animal welfare. On five farms, the space requirements for the animals’ cages were not met. On four farms there was no suitable chewing and enrichment material. In several previous years, shortcomings related to the condition of the base or floor and the mesh floor of the cages as well as deficiencies in the condition and safety of the buildings and equipment have been fairly common, but now they were observed in four farms. In addition, on four farms breaches were observed relating to the fencing of the farm or the prevention of the animals from escaping in other ways Sick and injured fur animals had not always received appropriate care (2 farms). With respect to the correct killing of fur animals, there was a decrease in violations from the previous year (11) and violations were observed on one farm.
Pigs
A total of 32 pig farms were inspected. Non-compliance with the animal welfare regulations was discovered on 41 per cent of the farms inspected, which is clearly more than the year before (27%). The number of violations per farm remained at the previous year’s level (2.7).
Most of the violations were related to the cleanliness of the premises or lack of bedding (12 farms). In addition, shortcomings in the provision of enrichment material were observed in six farms. Deficiencies in the record keeping which have been common for many years were detected on two farms, and one farm lacked the competence necessary for the inseminator.
Laying hens and broilers
No deficiencies were observed on broiler farms (7 cases). There were no animals on the holdings with laying hens that had been designated for inspection.