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Lots of space, exercise and straw: animal welfare stable for pigs in Holnburg

2021-02-24T08:07:28.875Z


Robert Schweiger is passionate about pig fattening. In Isen he wanted to build a so-called animal welfare stable for healthy and happy pigs. But neighbors intervened. Now he has found a home for his animals in Holnburg.


Robert Schweiger is passionate about pig fattening.

In Isen he wanted to build a so-called animal welfare stable for healthy and happy pigs.

But neighbors intervened.

Now he has found a home for his animals in Holnburg.

Lengdorf

- Robert Schweiger describes the location for his fattening operation in Holnburg in the municipality of Lengdorf as “six in the lottery”.

After a citizens' initiative against a planned stable on the outskirts of Isen had formed, the Großschwindacher had almost given up his plan of an animal welfare stable on straw.

He is all the more pleased that he has finally found a solution in Martin Gaigl's empty pigsty.

Space for 350 pigs

Schweiger currently keeps 330 pigs in Holnburg, he would have space for 350 animals.

The animals that come into his stable as three-month-old piglets are fattened according to the criteria of the Animal Welfare Initiative.

This includes a playpen and an open-air run with straw.

The animals, which all come from a breeder in the district, are fed with “guaranteed GM-free feed”, assures the father of two.

In Schweiger's stable, the animals have a good 40 percent more space than required.

The pigs are kept in different free-range boxes, separated by age.

"Pigs that have freedom of movement have much more stable joints and are less likely to get sick," is how Schweiger explains his fattening concept, which includes the open door to the exercise area.

“This means that the animals can stay outside in any weather”.

Species-appropriate employment opportunities

The consequence of this kind of attitude is that you need less medication and can significantly reduce the use of antibiotics.

In addition, the pigs are offered a species-appropriate employment opportunity through the possibility of digging in the straw.

In the summer, Schweiger wants to ensure that his pigs can wallow in order to make them feel really good even in the heat.

In Isen, too, Schweiger wanted to fatten straw pigs, he wanted to raise 220 piglets between the garbage dump and Aschberg until they were ready for slaughter.

But the neighbors around had complained about a possible odor nuisance.

The opponents of the fattening stable in Isen had collected over 400 signatures online.

Even today, Schweiger does not understand “why people were so vehemently against the animal welfare stable”.

"More regionality is not possible"

There are no neighbors around in Holnburg.

The new location is also ideal because the landlord is behind it and the animals are only faced with a short transport route of a few kilometers.

In Holnburg, by the way, Schweiger is at his side with Gaigl's father Konrad, a competent and understanding breeder and fattener.

From the end of February, the majority of the pigs ready for slaughter will be delivered to Andreas and Hans Menzinger's butcher in Lengdorf.

The two master butchers switch completely to straw pigs when selling and processing pork.

“We know from experience that Robert Schweiger delivers quality,” say the brothers.

“More regionality is not possible,” they say about the fact that breeding, fattening and slaughtering take place in the district.

10 to 15 pigs, which they slaughter themselves in Lengdorf, are taken from the fattener by the butchers every week.

For Schweiger this means economic security and a guaranteed fixed price.

“I'm glad it turned out that way,” says the pig farmer.

“I would never have been happy in Isen,” he is convinced.

(Anne Huber)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-02-24

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