Denmark is a marginal performer (“D”) under the VACI, on par with the United Kingdom and Poland. Although the country’s animal protection legislative framework is amongst the most stringent in the world, Denmark’s dependence on farmed animal production is more than double the global average and the Danish diet has a very high proportion of animal products.
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Denmark slaughters around 21.2 land-based animals per person per year, more than twice the global average of 10.1. The country's dependence on farmed animals is also higher than average, with around 6 farmed animals per person, compared with a global average of 4.1. Factory farming is widespread. Egg-laying hens are confined in 'enriched cages'; broiler chickens are produced in intensive systems; and pregnant pigs are often confined in sow stalls and farrowing crates.
The Danish diet contains a very high proportion of animal products, with around 62% of the average person's diet made up of land-based animal protein, versus a global average of 35.2%. Each person consumes around 64.8g of land-based animal protein per day, compared with a global average of 27.2g. Somewhere between 2-5% of the population is vegetarian - less than half the level in Germany.
Denmark is rated as a good performer ("B") under the Animal Protection Index (API), and its farmed animal protection legislation achieved an adequate performance rating ("C") under the same index. Danish animal welfare laws and enforcement machanisms go beyond EU mandatory requirements in some areas. For example, Denmark has implemented superior welfare protections for calves, such as increased space allowances and recognition of suckling needs. However, it still permits routine tail-docking without anaesthesia and some slaughter methods require improvement. Learn more about the quality of Denmark's legislative protections on the API here.