Cattle producers who are interested in participating in an animal welfare programme can join the Initiative Tierwohl in the “Stall plus Platz” programme. By participating, they implement certain criteria for greater animal welfare. They receive an animal welfare payment from the abattoirs (or their marketing partners) they supply to compensate for their additional financial expenditure. To this end, they conclude bilateral agreements with each other. Here you will find the conditions of participation, criteria, and information on remuneration for cattle production at a glance.

The “Frischluftstall” and “Auslauf” programs of the Initiative Tierwohl are classified in levels 3 and 4 of the scheme for uniform labelling of housing types. These two programs are initially aimed at pig, broiler, and turkey farmers. Offers for cattle production are currently being developed.

In order to participate in the “Stall plus Platz” programme of the Initiative Tierwohl, livestock owners must implement a series of criteria. All cattle producers in the cattle production sector must comply with a clearly defined, compact catalog of requirements, which ensures that all animals in the ITW meet the same high standards. Only in this way can the Initiative Tierwohl Seal provide a uniform statement about the way in which the animals were kept.

Certification bodies coordinate the independent inspections at participating agricultural businesses. Together with their employees, they form an important link between the Operating Company of the Initiative Tierwohl and the agricultural businesses participating in the initiative. They manage the inspection process and train the auditors who check and perform evaluations to determine whether the criteria are being implemented in accordance with the regulations.

Every company that is part of the Initiative Tierwohl is inspected once per calendar year. In addition, a stock check is carried out at one-third of the companies.