For sow-keeping farms in Germany that want to submit an application for funding to implement the new requirements for sow housing, the following general conditions apply:

•    The subsidy rate is 40 percent of eligible expenses.

•    The maximum funding amount is 500,000 euros per farm and funding project.

•    The project must not result in an increase in the number of animals.

•    The project must be completed by the end of 2022.

•    Eligible for funding are also individual farm consultations for the preparation of a conversion or
      replacement building concept.

At the moment, the application portal is being updated and is temporarily closed. It is expected that applications will be able to be submitted there again from April 2021.

Background

In February 2021, the Seventh Ordinance Amending the Ordinance on Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Husbandry came into force. It contains new regulations for keeping sows in the mating center and farrowing area. The aim is to improve animal welfare by abolishing crate housing for sows in the mating center and creating exercise pens in the farrowing area.

On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the BLE promotes barn conversions and barn replacements in sow management with the Federal Program for Investment Promotion for Barn Conversion to Ensure Animal Welfare. The goal is the timely phasing out of sow keeping in crate stalls in mating centers and farrowing houses. The federal barn conversion program as part of the Corona economic stimulus program was originally limited to the end of 2021 and the application deadline was March 15, 2021.

The website www.ble.de/stallumbau provides information about the federal program and offers guidance on how to apply. For questions, BLE is available by phone at 0228 6845-2755, by fax at 030 1810 6845-3031, or by email at stallumbau(at)ble(dot)de.