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In Sweden, it is a legal requirement that cows have green pasture in the summer.
But now it is being investigated whether the grazing rights should be removed, reports DN.
– They get fewer diseases, their hooves grow properly from being able to go out and move around, says nature conservation expert Tom Arnbom.
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After a campaign led by none other than Astrid Lindgren, a new animal welfare law was introduced in 1988. Since then, all dairy cows in Sweden must have access to green pasture for at least six hours every day during the grazing season. The grazing season is between two and four months, depending on where in the country the cows are.
But now that legal requirement may be on the way out, according to DN’s information. This after the government appointed an inquiry into agriculture last year. In the investigation, there must be a well-advanced discussion about removing the grazing rights for the dairy cows that roam freely indoors. If the right to graze is removed, it means that it will be permitted to keep the animals indoors all year round.
– It is clear that it is important for animals to be outside. If you’ve ever been to watch a cow run. Then you can see how happy the cows are, says Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson.
The investigation asks how the current law affects the competitiveness of agriculture.
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full screen Photo: Krister Hansson
The Christian Democrats have several times motioned in the Riksdag to remove the grazing requirement from the Animal Welfare Act.
– It is clear that Swedish farmers will let their cows graze outside. But we have to make sure that the profitability of Swedish agriculture can be increased, says the Centre’s party leader Muharrem Demirok.
But is two months too much?
– That will come up in the further discussion. But it cannot be said that the legislation should make agriculture disappear.
– What I think is what the party thinks, so I wait until we have made a decision on that issue before I think anything, says Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson.
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fullscreenThe cows’ right to graze outdoors can be removed. Photo: Per Björn
“Benefit for the whole of Sweden”
Tom Arnbom is a nature conservation expert and has previously worked for WWF.
– This is an animal ethical issue, but there are more sides to the coin. I think it is generally better if the cows were allowed to go outside.
According to him, it is important that the dairy cows are allowed to go out and graze – they would simply feel better about it. For the cows, it is a natural part of their lives to be allowed to do that.
– For example, they get fewer diseases, their hooves grow properly from being able to go out and exercise, he says.
In addition, the dairy cows’ green pasture affects biodiversity, he says. In the lands where cows graze, the amount of flowers and insects increases.
– If you release them, it may not benefit the farmers, but the whole of Sweden will benefit from it.
If the legal requirement were removed, it could benefit farmers financially because it could cost less, says Tom Arnbom. And he understands their situation. Swedish farmers today compete with farmers in other countries, which often have lighter animal welfare laws.
– We pay more in Sweden so that our farmers can protect the animals and at the same time survive. I’d be happy to do that.
– But I think that if you have cows, you have to live with it, he continues.
Elisabeth Nilsson, the government’s special investigator, leads the investigation. She does not want to comment to DN that this discussion is ongoing.