The German Animal Welfare Federation criticizes the fact that the federal government is unable to provide figures on the number of “diseased animals” in German agriculture. In response to a parliamentary question (Parliamentary Document 21/4071) regarding mortality rates among pigs, chickens, and other animals, the federal government stated that it did not have the relevant data. This means that—with the exception of cattle, where approximately 500,000 animals die annually—there is no basic overview of how many animals raised for food production never even reach slaughter but instead die or must be euthanized.
“The federal government clearly has no interest in knowing how many animals in Germany are bred ‘for the trash,’” criticizes Thomas Schröder, president of the German Animal Welfare Federation. “Despite existing structures for disposing of the animals, this data is not systematically collected or analyzed. As a result, the actual extent of animal losses in agriculture remains hidden, as do the areas where the most significant animal welfare issues lie.”
INDICATIONS OF SIGNIFICANT SUFFERING
Every year, millions of so-called “casualty animals” die prematurely on farms. Causes of death include diseases and injuries—due, among other things, to unsuitable housing conditions or performance-related overwork, but also to barn fires or the control of animal diseases. Studies from animal carcass disposal facilities indicate that many of the “fallen animals” are not treated in time, are treated inadequately, or are not treated at all, and suffer significantly before their death. Emergency euthanasia is sometimes performed too late or improperly.
ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR DATABASE ON “DISPOSED ANIMALS”
In its coalition agreement, the federal government set the goal of “creating a practical legal framework for the control and identification of dead animals in animal by-product processing facilities.” However, no steps have been taken in this regard so far. In addition to the implementation of this promise from the coalition agreement, the German Animal Welfare Federation is also calling for mandatory nationwide recording of all “dead animals” and their causes of death in a database. Only in this way can it become clear how many animals actually die and for what reasons—and where countermeasures must be taken.
