Denmark to eliminate tying of cattle in stables in 4 years
Denmark wants to eliminate tying up organic cattle in stables by 2024 and to strengthen animal welfare, according to the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. Also, Minister Mogens Jensen intends to stop this practice on other farms but in a slightly longer term. "Organic cattle must not be tied to stables in Denmark. Therefore, we must get rid of tie stables, which are neither up-to-date nor can guarantee that there is good animal welfare," said Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Mogens Jensen.
The proposal is part of the new organic regulation, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2022. It is expected that organic farmers, who still have a tie barn, can apply for a dispensation for a transitional period from 2022 to 2024 if they have fewer than 50 cows on the farm. In order to obtain a dispensation, they must be able to show that there is good animal welfare on the farm.
"The ecologists who can no longer have a tie barn must not have torn their livelihoods away from one day to the next. Therefore, you can get a dispensation for two years if the cattle are well and have good conditions. In this way, we maintain our high ambitions for ecology, and those farmers have time to adapt to the new rules and upgrade the stables," added Minister Jensen.
The final dates depend on the new European Ecology Regulation, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2022. In Denmark, there are almost 10 binding stables with organic cattle. From 1 January 2022, a general ban is expected for organic farmers to have cattle in a tie barn as part of the new ecology regulation. However, the regulation provides for the possibility of granting a national exemption for binding stables. Until 1 January 2024, Danish organic farmers with cattle in binding pens can apply for a dispensation if they can guarantee a sufficient level of animal welfare. From 1 January 2024, it is no longer possible for organic farmers to have tie barns. From 2027, there will be a general ban on binding stables for dairy cattle in Denmark.
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