|
The EU PiG project seeks to share the benefits of on-farm best practice between producers to promote a sustainable pig industry across the EU. This issue focuses on four of the project's 2018 Ambassadors and how they approach key health and welfare challenges.
Theme: Animal Welfare
Challenge: Enrichment materials
Ambassador: Granja Rosa, Spain
Feed conversion ratio has improved and pigs have become easier to handle, since farmer Granja Rosa began changing the type of environmental enrichment in each pen every day on her finishing unit. This is to promote a greater sense of novelty for the 616 pigs and help reduce risk of tail biting.
Theme: Animal Welfare
Challenge: Loose farrowing systems
Ambassador: Doris Verhovsek, Austria
Piglet losses during lactation have been reduced from 25% to 15% on this breeding unit, equipped with a Pro Dromi loose farrowing system. Management changes were key to reducing these losses and included: changing sow genetics, optimising feeding and close observation and intensive care of piglets.
Theme: Health Management
Challenge: Reducing zinc oxide
Ambassador: Kris Gios, Belgium
Kris Gios’ farrow-to-finish unit has trialled feeding herbs in piglet diets instead of including zinc oxide and has reduced production costs by 2.4%. Average daily gain and feed conversion rate have improved and weaner mortality rate has been reduced.
Theme: Health Management
Challenge: Optimal vaccination strategies
Ambassador: Tom Mertens, Belgium
A group of 13 pig farms in the same region have reduced PRRS problems by 30% in a three-year period by working together and learning from each other to help tackle the problem.
The next issue will feature the four best practices from the Precision Production and Meat Quality themes.
|
