Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The new animal welfare regulations for farm animals were implemented on December 1, 2017. The previous regulation L 100 were divided in to six different regulations divided between species. Two of the species that now have their own regulations are bovine (Bos taurus) with case number L 104 and pig (Sus scrofa domestica) with case number L 106. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is the central authority responsible for animal welfare legislation related to animals kept by humans. When developing new regulations, the Swedish Board of Agriculture sends out the proposals to relevant institutions and authorities that may be affected by the changes, for example the county administrative boards. The institutions and authorities then have the opportunity to submit comments on the proposals before the regulations are finally decided by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

The county administrative boards are in charge of the official control of animal welfare in Sweden. By carrying out controls, the county administrative boards ensure that farmers and animal owners comply with the requirements of the animal welfare legislation. In order to make their work function properly, the legislation needs to be designed in a way that facilitates the farmers and animal owners to comply with the regulations and the county administrative boards to conduct the controls. The aim of this study was to investigate the responses that the county administrative boards handed in to the Swedish Board of Agriculture regarding the new regulations for bovines and pigs, focusing on the effects for the official controls.

The time period for responding to the changes in the provisions regarding the keeping of bovines and pigs was between April 19, 2017, and May 22, 2017. There were 18 county administrative boards that responded to the six regulation changes proposed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The main result of the study showed that the county administrative board agreed with the majority of these proposed changes. The majority were positive about the changes in pen sizes for bovines, increased freedom of movement for both bovines and pigs, and clarification regarding allowed fences for pigs. On the other hand, the majority of county administrative boards were negative to the proposal to allow far earlier weaning of piglets. The largest variation between county administrative boards was about the proposal that regulates the number of fattening pigs held in the same compartment. All proposals were implemented in the end, some with minor changes.