Germany: There is so much more money for cattle farmers through the ITW program

The basis for ITW cattle are the animal welfare and animal health requirements of the QS quality assurance system, to which ITW is now adding an animal welfare plus. The industry agreement between retailers, slaughterhouses and farmers' associations stipulates that the food retailer pays a price surcharge of 10.7 cents for the animal welfare criteria or, from April 1, 2023, 12.83 cents per kg of slaughter weight. The increase in 2023 takes place because from this point in time the criterion of scuffing possibility must be implemented and will only be rewarded from this point in time. There is no uniform price surcharge for veal fattening farms - this is negotiated bilaterally between the partners. Dairy farms can also receive a supplement of 4 cents/kg slaughter weight for slaughter cows (e.g. from the QM+ program). Dairy farms should liaise with their dairy and participate in an ITW-approved milk welfare program. They could then be approved for ITW and market their cows for ...