A new agreement at government level in Denmark offers some relief to Danish producers who have complained about governmental restriction on the possible expansion of their units.

Under a revision of planning permission rules put forward by minister for food, agriculture and fisheries Eva Kjer Hansen, the allowed limit on livestock enterprise size is raised to 500 animal units per farm. This is equivalent to 1400 sows with piglets and equates to approximately 330 dairy cows unit.

Expansion will be permitted only if the farmer has signed up to receive animal health advice from a veterinarian.