New bovine farm management law in Spain
It has been received unevenly among farmers although no one questions it was necessary. Increased bureaucracy, farm size limit or adaptation of infrastructures are some of the most contentious topics. The Spanish bovine sector ranks second in terms of economic importance of livestock production with about 30% of national share.
From December 30, 2022, Spain introduced national legislation to regulate the beef and dairy cattle sectors. The new Royal Decree 1053/2022 Disposición 23053 del BOE núm. 312 de 2022 lays down the basic rules for cattle farms, some of the provisions of which have already came into force and some of which will enter into force on the basis of various transitional periods.
In the absence of a national standard, an agreement was finally reached in view of the need to (1) harmonize and improve hygiene and biosecurity measures, (2) take into account the evolution of the sector itself and changes in society, and (3) take up new challenges related to animal welfare, environment and animal health. All this under the framework of the Green Deal and its Farm to Fork strategy.
The Spain’s bovine sector ranks second in terms of economic importance of livestock national production with about 30% of the total. In January 2022 the economic size of the dairy cattle sector was 12% of the total Spanish livestock production. Beef cattle production was 15% (Fig. 1).
Main basic standards
The requirements for farms shall be set according to the size of the farm, the production system and whether it is an existing or a newly established farm:
- The maximum farm size is set at 850 LSU (livestock unit) ,where 1 LSU is equivalent to one dairy cow Glossary:Livestock unit (LSU) - Statistics Explained (europa.eu), except for extensive production.
- Minimum infrastructure, equipment and management requirements.
- Location and separation for newly established holdings.
- Animal welfare requirements.
- Hygiene, health and biosecurity requirements.
- Environmental requirements: on-farm manure management, on-farm emission reduction.
- Responsibilities and obligations regarding staff training, biosecurity, hygiene, health and animal welfare.
- Identification and movement of animals.
- Registration and approval of holdings.
BAT (Best Available Techniques)
The royal decree establishes the reduction of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions, but the actions to be taken will be subject to the BAT list that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) must publish during 2023. The two ministries will also agree on the emission reduction percentages.
In the bovine sector there is no internationally validated BAT list but, according to the MAPA spokeswoman, the vast majority of farmers, especially those on more professionalized farms, are already applying many of these BATs. For the time being, farms will be required to apply techniques affecting animal feeding, housing and slurry storage that are available today and based on scientific evidence.
Threat or opportunity?
Overall, while virtually no one doubts that this national legislation was necessary, the sector response has been mixed. Farmers’ organizations are clearly in favor of a law as there was already for swine and poultry sectors, indeed, they consider it "essential". For Matilde Moro, manager of Asoprovac (the national association of beef farmers), the law "will regulate and give visibility to the reality of farms in basic aspects such as animal welfare, size and biosecurity". “In the short term, however, the requirements will come at a cost to farms, it will clearly benefit the sector in the medium term”, she concludes.
According to farmers’ organizations, "significant uncertainties remain with regard to the actual implementation of many aspects of the law, as they involve significant changes on farms, which in many cases won’t be addressed for economic or structural reasons".
One of the most debated issues is the limitation of farm size to 850 UGM. Some organizations are of the opinion that it hampers the profitability of farms, while others are of the opposite opinion and would set the maximum limit at 180 LSU, not to jeopardize the family farm model. What they all agree on is that regional governments will be able to increase the maximum number of LSU by up to 10%.
Increased bureaucracy is also a negative point for many farmers.
The beef sector in Spain
In the latest official statistics published by the Ministry of Agriculture, it appears that the Spanish beef sector was the third largest in the EU in 2021, with a share of the total value of production of 11%. It was preceded by France’s sector (25%) and Germany’s sector (11%). The Netherlands ranked seventh with 5% (Fig. 2).
The number of farms has been falling steadily in recent years to almost 155,000 in January 2022 (Fig. 3).
More info on the beef sector in Spain: Vacuno de carne (mapa.gob.es)
The dairy cattle sector in Spain
Spain’s total deliveries of raw milk in 2022 amounted to 7.3 million tons, a decrease of 2.2% compared to 2021. EU-wide deliveries in 2023 are reflected in Fig. 4.
In April 2023 the number of dairy cows was 788,107, a decrease of 1.8% compared to the same month in the previous year, and 267,882 heifers (between 8 and 24 months). Spain has only 4% of UE females older than 24 months.
More info on the dairy sector in Spain: Vacuno lechero (mapa.gob.es)
More news on the livestock sectors in Spain:
Spain: Biomethane investments versus green hydrogens | Nieuwsbericht | Agroberichten Buitenland
Spain: Milk prices soar by 25% | Nieuwsbericht | Agroberichten Buitenland
Spain: Update on animal welfare national legislation | Nieuwsbericht | Agroberichten Buitenland
Spanje: Internationale veehouderijbeurs FIGAN | Nieuwsbericht | Agroberichten Buitenland