For more animal welfare, Doskozil goes to court about fully slatted floors

Animal rights activists regularly point out that keeping farm animals on fully slatted floors means one thing above all: great suffering. Scientific studies also clearly show that this form of livestock farming is animal cruelty and therefore contradicts the state goal of “animal protection”.

Historic decision
With the appeal to the Constitutional Court for a quick ban on fully slatted floors in pig farming, Burgenland achieved great success in the field of animal protection last year, even though nine farmers have just appealed against this – the “Krone” reports .

But Governor Doskozil (SPÖ) is consistently continuing on this path and would also like to ban this form of livestock farming. A corresponding constitutional complaint was decided at a government meeting on Tuesday.

Currently, only certain cattle are not allowed to be kept on fully slatted floors. Doskozil noted that it is allowed for animals not used for breeding. “If the federal legislature assumes that some animals should not be kept on fully slatted floors due to the increased risk of disease, then this should also apply to the same animals if they are not used for breeding,” the state governor argued.

Rethink agriculture
In Burgenland, Doskozil wants to develop a new financing model that will compensate for the abolition of the suckler cow premium. This should also strengthen regional livestock production, end painful animal transport and improve the competitiveness of local agriculture, the governor said.

Poor pigs
Doskozil could also imagine a new complaint about the ban on fully slatted floors in pig farming if the worst happens. There is not yet a new arrangement for the transition period, which lasts until 2040 and will be lifted on June 1, 2025. “If there is another long transition period, we will have the law reassessed by the Constitutional Court,” he announced.

The lady from the animal shelter “Krone” does not want to get too excited yet: “You must of course also understand the fears and concerns of farmers, as many see their existence threatened by new investments. But the lives of these animals also count and politics must put an end to this suffering at some point! These animals often find it difficult to get up, to lie down, to take every step. I welcome this new appeal to the Court and hope that clarity will be provided to all parties soon.”