Visiting pigs, part 1/3. “She is about to fall out of happiness” – “Animals are no better off in the meadow.”

How are the Swiss farm animals? She visits Blue News for and against the industrial farming initiative and asks what pigs need.

How does a happy pig live? In an open field, outside all day? Or does it feel comfortable on a big farm? On September 25, Switzerland agreed Banning factory farming far. Blue News visits two farmers, one supporting the initiative and the other opposing it. One reason for the different breeding is likely to be the size at which the two produce pork.

While Kurt Brunner of Hallwyl in Aargau always keeps about ten pigs, his colleague Thomas Ringley of Rotgenberg in canton Lucerne keeps about 40. In his view, a company as large as his would not be possible if the initiative was accepted.

In Brunner, the pigs are always outdoors and drowning in the dirt. With Thomas Renggli, they have access to the outside, but not to a meadow, but to a container with a concrete floor and protection from the sun. “Our animal husbandry meets the needs of the animals,” he tells Blue News. He’s so confident in his ranch that he says, “If we offered the stable on Airbnb, we’d be confused.”