At pig farmer Scheepens', the pigs still 'zoelen' and root – a life the Chamber grants more farm animals

In the heart of Brabant, farmer Kees Scheepens is challenging the industrial norm, allowing his pigs the freedom to 'zoelen'—roll in the mud—a basic instinct now lost to most farm animals. His farm, a stark contrast to the crowded, sterile barns common in the region, offers a glimpse into a life where pigs, with their curly tails held high, exhibit contentment.

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That curl means they feel good, like a dog wagging its tail. And rolling in the mud is called ‘zoelen’ – a primary need for pigs. They regulate their temperature that way. The word has disappeared from the dictionary because it hardly happens anywhere anymore.

Scheepens, a former veterinarian, was deeply affected by the mass culling of pigs during the swine fever outbreak, an experience he describes as 'moral injury.' This trauma fueled his mission to reintegrate the pig as an animal with a dignified existence, not merely a production unit for meat.

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A lazy pig: that expression isn't there for nothing.

The Dutch parliament's recent debate on 'animal-dignified farming' reflects a growing societal shift. While the ambition is for 10% of farm animals to have a dignified life by 2030 and 100% by 2040, Scheepens' farm stands as a living example of what is possible. His work, often presented to international audiences, highlights a uniquely Dutch struggle to balance agricultural efficiency with animal welfare, a conversation that resonates deeply within a nation with a significant livestock industry.

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He finds it nice here because he sees pigs nowhere else while he visits fifty farms a week.