Abuses in pig farming: new information on the case – Austria –

On Wednesday, the VGT showed “catastrophic” conditions at a pig farm in Styria.

It was incorrectly stated that it was an AMA quality seal company. This is not true, as new information on the case shows: there are two farms on the site at the same address, with the same name, Blasius Gsöl, and a large stable. One of the farms, a pig farm, where the photos are supposed to come from, is run by the father. The son has a fattening farm that, unlike the father, has the seal of approval from the AMA. The operation of Gsöl Junior is a good operation and has been periodically reviewed, AMA’s Manuela Schürr told VOL.AT. There were no deviations.

Images released by VGT show conditions at both companies in Obergnas, Styria, both on the Gsöl Seniors property. There are complaints in the stall areas: lack of activity material in the fully lattice floor area, manure ponds and an immobile pig in the partially lattice floor area. Everywhere animals lie on hard cement without litter.

You had contact with Gsöl Senior, so Schürr applied for VOL.AT. At the time the photos were taken, he was in hospital after a heart attack. “He admits that there were problems with the manure during his absence,” Schürr said. It does not hide the fact that conditions were not good. These are control errors that must of course be corrected. They will seek a conversation with Gsöl Senior, everything else is the responsibility of the authorities.

The VGT continues to demand the abolition of full grid floors. According to the WADA spokeswoman, keeping full columns is a very common practice in Austria. About 95 percent of the animals in Austria live in complete slots, making it the most widespread form of husbandry that is also allowed by the Federal Animal Protection Act, according to Schürr. A change in the law must be supported by the market. Therefore, WADA has chosen a different path: in the guidelines, it offers a voluntary module in which the animals have more space in the barn and there are no full gaps, but litter-filled resting areas. There is a prize for this and the meat also costs more. But that’s precisely the crux of the matter right now: demand is extremely low. They had high hopes that the new module could become the standard program. To get ahead here, you simply need the solidarity of consumers. Meat is more expensive, you already have to be able to pay more.