Germany: COVID-19 Will Change German Livestock Industry
Link to report:
COVID-19 infections among workers in German slaughterhouses is expected to not only have short term impacts on the hog market and global pork trade but also result in fundamental changes for German pork production. Currently, Europe’s biggest pork slaughterhouse is closed due to numerous workers testing positive for COVID-19. This resulted in market distortions for European hog farmers and a Chinese ban on pork imports from this company. In the long run, the infections also exposed tough labor conditions for slaughterhouse workers, so that the German Government will enforce higher labor standards which may reduce competitiveness of the German livestock industry. COVID-19 also renewed discussions about animal welfare; Germany hense included the topic on the agenda of its current EU presidency.
