Animal welfare concerns rise in Finnish fur farms and Swiss pig husbandry

Animal welfare concerns are rising in Europe following new reports regarding fur farming and livestock management. In Finland, the organization Project 1882 released footage from farms in Lapua, Veteli, and Kauhava. The recordings allegedly show blue foxes with significant health issues, including skin folds, eye inflammation, untreated injuries, and restricted mobility due to wire cage confinement. The animal welfare group VIER PFOTEN estimated some animals could weigh up to 19 kilograms. These findings arrive as the European Commission deliberates whether to propose a ban on fur farming and marketing or to implement stricter husbandry standards.

In Switzerland, the federal government is commissioning a study through Agroscope and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) to examine the rooting behavior of domestic pigs. The study aims to determine if current regulations provide sufficient opportunities for pigs to engage in their natural instinct to dig and explore. The industry group Suisseporcs has expressed concern over the lack of prior consultation and warned that potential new requirements for pig housing could lead to increased production costs.