The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) recently released the results of a field study on two-level pig pens. The study found that the vast majority of German pig farmers using this system are satisfied with its performance and would be willing to install it again. This finding provides valuable insights for the European pig industry as it seeks viable technical solutions amid growing pressure to improve animal welfare.
Research Background: A New Approach to Spatial Organization
The core design of a two-tier pig barn involves adding a raised platform within a traditional pen to provide the herd with an additional level of activity. This structural element is intended to create more usable space and help pigs naturally divide the area into functional zones (such as defecation and resting areas), thereby meeting their natural behavioral needs. While farms in the Netherlands and other countries have previously adopted similar designs, there has been a lack of systematic evaluation of the specific impacts of this system on animal health and behavior—which is precisely what motivated the FLI team to conduct this study.
It is worth noting that this study was funded by the German Federal Office for Food and Agriculture (BLE), aligning with the “Transformation of Animal Husbandry” (Umbau der Tierhaltung) policy framework promoted by Germany in recent years. Currently, the German pig farming industry is facing significant compliance pressures resulting from revisions to the Animal Welfare Livestock Husbandry Ordinance (Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungsverordnung), and farmers urgently need to find a balance between economic viability and welfare standards.
Key Findings: Significant Variation in Platform Usage; Hygiene Management Still Needs Improvement
The FLI team conducted on-site surveys at six nursery farms and three finishing farms, inspecting up to five pens per farm (nursery pens housing 16–35 pigs, finishing pens housing 49–160 pigs). Key findings include:
In terms of floor coverage, platforms covered 25%–45% of the floor area in nursery pens and 15%–40% in finishing pens. More than half of the farmers provided additional environmental enrichment items, such as toys or straw, on the platforms.
In terms of usage rates, on average, 15.2% of nursery pigs and 2.2% of finishing pigs were observed on the platform during a single observation. The usage rate among finishing pigs was significantly lower, which contrasts with a previous study conducted in the Netherlands—that study found that 98.9% of nursery pigs had used the platform at least once, and the probability of use increased with body weight. The low usage rate among finishing pigs may be related to difficulties in climbing as they grow larger, an issue that warrants further investigation.
Regarding hygiene, the average contamination rate in the platform area of the nursery pens was 13%, while the area beneath the platform was 20%, and the uncovered open area was only 1%. Contamination rates in the various areas of the finishing pens were relatively uniform, at approximately 15% across the board. Farmers generally reported that the two-tier structure posed significant challenges for daily inspections and pen cleaning.
Farmers’ Attitudes: Generally Positive, but Clear Pain Points
In terms of subjective evaluations, farmers rated the platform’s impact on air quality, feeding behavior, pig health, and behavioral performance as “somewhat positive” to “positive.” However, evaluations were notably negative regarding the convenience of animal inspections and the difficulty of cleaning pens. Despite this, the majority of farmers clearly stated that they “would choose to install it again.”
Key Unresolved Issues
The research team notes that it remains unclear whether the area of elevated platforms can be counted as “unrestricted available floor area” under the “Regulations on Animal Welfare in Livestock Farming.” This regulatory determination will directly determine whether double-deck pig barns can help farmers meet higher space standards without expanding their facilities—if the answer is yes, the value of promoting this technology will increase significantly.
Industry Implications
At a time when Germany’s swine industry is undergoing structural transformation—with pork production stabilizing and controversies over animal welfare investments intensifying—double-deck pig barns, as a relatively low-cost structural renovation solution, are expected to provide small and medium-sized farmers with a technical pathway that balances welfare improvements with economic viability. Future research should further quantify their impact on long-term health indicators in pigs (such as skin lesions and tail-biting incidence) and work toward clarifying relevant regulatory requirements.
Disclaimer: Some of the information in this article is sourced from the internet. The sources have been clearly cited, and all copyrights belong to the original authors. The content is provided for readers’ reference only. If any rights of the original authors have been infringed, please contact us promptly via the comments section so we may remove the content.
Research Background: A New Approach to Spatial Organization
The core design of a two-tier pig barn involves adding a raised platform within a traditional pen to provide the herd with an additional level of activity. This structural element is intended to create more usable space and help pigs naturally divide the area into functional zones (such as defecation and resting areas), thereby meeting their natural behavioral needs. While farms in the Netherlands and other countries have previously adopted similar designs, there has been a lack of systematic evaluation of the specific impacts of this system on animal health and behavior—which is precisely what motivated the FLI team to conduct this study.
It is worth noting that this study was funded by the German Federal Office for Food and Agriculture (BLE), aligning with the “Transformation of Animal Husbandry” (Umbau der Tierhaltung) policy framework promoted by Germany in recent years. Currently, the German pig farming industry is facing significant compliance pressures resulting from revisions to the Animal Welfare Livestock Husbandry Ordinance (Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungsverordnung), and farmers urgently need to find a balance between economic viability and welfare standards.
Key Findings: Significant Variation in Platform Usage; Hygiene Management Still Needs Improvement
The FLI team conducted on-site surveys at six nursery farms and three finishing farms, inspecting up to five pens per farm (nursery pens housing 16–35 pigs, finishing pens housing 49–160 pigs). Key findings include:
In terms of floor coverage, platforms covered 25%–45% of the floor area in nursery pens and 15%–40% in finishing pens. More than half of the farmers provided additional environmental enrichment items, such as toys or straw, on the platforms.
In terms of usage rates, on average, 15.2% of nursery pigs and 2.2% of finishing pigs were observed on the platform during a single observation. The usage rate among finishing pigs was significantly lower, which contrasts with a previous study conducted in the Netherlands—that study found that 98.9% of nursery pigs had used the platform at least once, and the probability of use increased with body weight. The low usage rate among finishing pigs may be related to difficulties in climbing as they grow larger, an issue that warrants further investigation.
Regarding hygiene, the average contamination rate in the platform area of the nursery pens was 13%, while the area beneath the platform was 20%, and the uncovered open area was only 1%. Contamination rates in the various areas of the finishing pens were relatively uniform, at approximately 15% across the board. Farmers generally reported that the two-tier structure posed significant challenges for daily inspections and pen cleaning.
Farmers’ Attitudes: Generally Positive, but Clear Pain Points
In terms of subjective evaluations, farmers rated the platform’s impact on air quality, feeding behavior, pig health, and behavioral performance as “somewhat positive” to “positive.” However, evaluations were notably negative regarding the convenience of animal inspections and the difficulty of cleaning pens. Despite this, the majority of farmers clearly stated that they “would choose to install it again.”
Key Unresolved Issues
The research team notes that it remains unclear whether the area of elevated platforms can be counted as “unrestricted available floor area” under the “Regulations on Animal Welfare in Livestock Farming.” This regulatory determination will directly determine whether double-deck pig barns can help farmers meet higher space standards without expanding their facilities—if the answer is yes, the value of promoting this technology will increase significantly.
Industry Implications
At a time when Germany’s swine industry is undergoing structural transformation—with pork production stabilizing and controversies over animal welfare investments intensifying—double-deck pig barns, as a relatively low-cost structural renovation solution, are expected to provide small and medium-sized farmers with a technical pathway that balances welfare improvements with economic viability. Future research should further quantify their impact on long-term health indicators in pigs (such as skin lesions and tail-biting incidence) and work toward clarifying relevant regulatory requirements.
Disclaimer: Some of the information in this article is sourced from the internet. The sources have been clearly cited, and all copyrights belong to the original authors. The content is provided for readers’ reference only. If any rights of the original authors have been infringed, please contact us promptly via the comments section so we may remove the content.