EU PIG: EU Pig Innovation Group: Thematic Network to support the implementation of Innovative Practice into EU Pig Production

The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) has adopted the University of Ghent Biosecurity Scoring Tool, the Biocheck.ugent®, as part of its Advisory Services package to enable farmers to review biosecurity on their farms. The Biocheck.ugent® scoring system is a science-based questionnaire that can be filled in online and assess if the adopted biosecurity measures are appropriate.
Questions on internal and external biosecurity are used to calculate a score which together with the associated report is adapted to the herd type. Questions on the external biosecurity evaluate the purchase of piglets; transport of animals, removal of manure and carcasses; feed, water and material supply; vermin control; and geographical location. Questions on internal biosecurity assess the health management; farrowing and suckling period; respect of the segregation and compartmentalisation; cleaning and disinfection.
Biocheck.ugent® helps the farmer to gain awareness about the biosecurity status of their pig farm and to identify possible areas of improvement. So far, the Biocheck.ugent® scoring has been carried out for 73 farms (25% of Irish farms) and these farms have been able to identify areas they need to improve on their farms. This will help improve biosecurity and thus pig health and performance, while reducing costs.
It has been observed that pig farms with a better score in external and internal biosecurity were also associated with better production and lower antimicrobial usage.

One of the biggest problems for farms, that raise uncastrated male pigs is the significant presence of boar taint of the carcasses at slaughter. Boar taint is determined by the key elements androstenone and scatole. Both of these substances have high heritability and these traits can therefore be included in a breeding value calculation. This possibility of reducing boar taint through a selection of terminal line boars has been successfully explored by Gfs-Topgenetik in Germany. The boar registered in the herd book of the “German Genetic” breeding organization belongs to the Westfleisch boar pool of the GFS. His progenies have been intensively tested, so his suitability for use in the boar fattening is proofed. After insemination and farrowing the male and female piglets are raised together in the rearing period, but are finished in separate groups.
The additional costs of the semen of these tested boars are € 1.10. Without the odour tested sires 3.5% of the carcasses show the significant presence of boar taint, but using the Gfs odour tested sires only 0.75% of the carcasses have to be discarded. Boars with conspicuous odours will suffer lower prices than boars without boar taint. Assuming the slaughtering of 2,250 boars without the use of odour tested sires 79 boars will show boar taint with a loss ranging from € 1,580 up to € 6,320 €. Using the Gfs odour tested sires only 17 boars will present boar taint and the losses will be limited up to a maximum of € 1,360.

Sikana Oy farm has intact tails because docking is banned in Finland. The farm has 2980 finishers, 10 pigs/pen with 1/3 slatted floor and 2/3 solid with heating. There are heating pipes at the wall and negative pressure ventilation. Pens have two wood pieces as enrichment material and provided wood shavings 2 times/day. The liquid feed consists of grain, barley, whey and supplements. It is supplied 5 times/day and the trough (30 cm/pig) is never totally empty. Feed consumption is checked daily and supply adjusted as needed. Pigs have always access to water that is quality analysed regularly. Water pressure is adjusted for finishers. Compartments are preheated and pens have some bedding material and electrolyte solution in troughs when piglets arrive. Health status is high, SPF for enzootic pneumonia, atrophic rhinitis, mange, salmonella, PRRS and swine dysentery. The piggery is divided in two compartments with separate equipment. Boots are changed between compartments for biosecurity.
EU PiG evaluation of the idea
This seems to be a well-run farm. Crucial risk factors which may lead to tail biting appear to be controlled for. The farm has a high health status, a liquid feed is offered, fresh substrate is provided twice daily, and piglets are offered bedding material on arrival. Unfortunately no details on the level of tail biting or other injuries are provided, so it is hard to judge if these measures are effective.

The Danish best practice ‘Systematic routine weighing’ improves feed efficiency of finisher pigs. Since feed provided to the pigs is a major contributor to production costs (up to 70%) it is worthwhile to optimize feed efficiency. Although there are a large variety of factors that impact feed efficiency (e.g., breed, environment, health, body composition, individual variation in maintenance requirements, etc.), body weight of the animals is arguably the most important factor driving pigs’ nutritional requirements during the growing period. Despite the simplicity of its definition, feed efficiency is a complex parameter to manage in commercial pig farms.
The best practice consists of a weighing system that allows the farmer to record growing/fattening pigs’ live weight on a daily or weekly basis, and a decision support system that is used to monitor pigs’ growth (to compare it with the expected growth) and to choose the right feed mix to be offered to the pigs. Feeding pigs a mixture of two feeds, blended according to their weight, is a practice that has the potential to optimise performance by reducing lysine intake and nitrogen excretion more than 20% thanks to a more precise feeding. Weight information can be used for testing different feed mixes and for selection of the large pigs that are send to slaughter earlier. Pig weighing in a regular basis also offers the possibility for more accurate early warning of upcoming diseases or veterinary interventions (dosing of medicaments is linked to the animals’ body weight in almost all of the cases), resulting in diseases having a lower impact on feed and growth efficiency.

In 2015, 13 farms (piglet rearing, sow farms and finishing farms) in the same region decided to work towards a stable and healthy farm. The aim was to share information and work out a common strategy regarding PRRS and health status of the farms. This is intended to improve the farms production. After consultation with the internal and external partners, a joint vaccination strategy was implemented in combination with an improved biosecurity status at the individual farms and information exchange about diseases and other relevant problems. PRRS strains are typified so that biosafety leaks can be detected. Based on the individual results of the audits an individual plan or approach for each farm was set up.
There has been an increase of awareness of the importance of biosafety and continuous monitoring by the farmers. Awareness that solving health problems like PRRS requires a total approach. All farms now have the same veterinarian. All farms use the same vaccines and the same vaccination scheme. 30% less problems than in 2015.
PRRSV is one of the most economically significant pathogens in swine, in many countries. It is reported that annual economical losses due to PRRSV are $664 million in USA. The spread of the virus is the biggest challenge of PRRS control, so an area regional approach on control/elimination has been initiated in more than 25 regions in North America, the Netherlands and Japan. So far, all those programs are totally swine producer-driven at voluntary basis, along with collaborations of universities or industrial partners. This best practice has been selected by the thematic group members since area regional control programs for PRRSV are used in the US but are not widely distributed in Europe.

A new barn was built for 3,000 pigs. They have chosen to raise pigs in groups of 375 and manage them with the Nedap Pig Sorting system. This system consists of a weighing unit with individual animal identification and three exits. The combined feed and sorting station weighs and identifies each pig and automatically leads it to the right feed type or to the separation area. This allows optim feeding and deliver his pigs to slaughter at the right weight. The system ensures that the heaviest 40% of the pigs receive growing-finishing feed, while the lightest 60% get starter feed. When this group reaches a specific weight, the feeding station will adjust automatically. This way the group remains as uniform as possible. The third exit is used to separate pigs. The system can also sort gilts from barrows. Rick keeps track of the activity and health of the animals in records of growth and number of visits to the feeding station.
There is a clear insight for improvement, by improving their return on investment by using automation to manage their sows and pigs e.g. managing individual animals within large groups helps him to minimize feed waste by feeding pigs based on individual weights and performance. Nedap's smart technology adjusts the feed type and dosage to the weight of each pig. This saves the farmer 20 percent on the costs of starting feed.
In Europe every country has its own demand and preferences for the pig weight. The Nedap Pig Sorting automatically sorts and feeds finishing pigs based on weight. This can be realised in all countries. The sorting station weighs and identifies each pig and automatically directs it to the feed ration you want it to have based on its performance. In all countries they have the possibility to quit wasting pig feed on heavy pigs.

General description: Second parity sows performance below target. Managing gilt body condition to avoid over-fit at farrowing and under-conditioned weaners identified. Needed to understand changes in body condition. Purchased £400 back fat tester. Weigh scales allowed the following to be introduced for each batch of 8 gilt s: weigh/measure back fat at P2 position of gilts at service; P2 entering farrowing house; P2 after 18-days lactation - before final week of lactation, period for greatest demand on milk production & nutritional stress; weigh and P2 on exit from farrowing house. This added approx 1hr every 3 weeks to measure maiden gilts. Recommendations in gilt management practices to be widely disseminated via media. Recalibrating feeding system important to ensure feeding correct amount. Introducing control measures to gilt management practices to demonstrate processes at strategic points during first cycle will improve gilt/young sow performance & retention in herd.
Costs and benefits Performance: Ongoing Single cost items: Back fact test £400 plus labour Prices: As measured by improved herd productivity via pigs weaned / sow / year. Ongoing.
Transnational impact: Retaining more gilts and young sows in the herd will improve herd productivity and sow lifetime output, whilst reducing replacement rate and cost of introducing gilts.

The farm owner has designed a System to change the type of environmental enrichment in each pen at regular intervals (every day) to promote the sense of novelty for the pigs. It works with a rotatory system of chains attached to the roof which move some hanging enrichment material from one pen to another one. Enrichment materials included are wooden pieces, balls, straw containers, plastic rings, hemp ropes. After a year using this system, the owner introduced new innovations: an extra pen called "playroom" in which the pigs are moved once per week with a combination of different materials in the same room, and another area with deep straw to root in which pigs are moved also at regular intervals. The owners of the farm use different enrichment materials according to the age of the pigs.
Setting up the equipment and its maintenance has an economical cost. There is a labour cost associated with moving pigs to the playroom. However, the owners are collecting data to analyse more objectively the cost-benefits because a better feed conversion ratio has been observed since the change. The owners also report more easiness of handling and less negative interactions between pigs when they were taken to the slaughterhouse. A study is being undertaken at present to try to evaluate a potential correlation of meat ultimate pH and this enrichment strategy.
A solution for no tail docking pigs is needed for proper compliance of EU legislation. Routine tail docking is reported to be over 90% in pigs in Spain, because risk of tail biting outbreaks is considered to be too high to stop tail docking. EU 2016 recommendation on the avoidance of tail docking has a special emphasis on finding a proper environmental enrichment strategy as a first step for the compliance of the legislation.

The aim was to find a quick and easy tool for early detection of hyperthermia in pigs. Rectal thermometers are not used on farms and fever alerts, about numerous health issues at a very early stage, if detected properly. The IR thermographic camera Flir One was connected to a smartphone and software developed to recognise temperature patterns according to an algorithm. The app is a portable, affordable and trustworthy technology. In development, 4500 cases were analysed from farms in the EU and USA. Degree2act helps to manage disease outbreaks and improve welfare.
Cost benefit: Using degree2act on a daily basis can help you to reduce antibiotic treatment costs up to 50% through individual care. Flir One camera costs between 250€ and 500€. A compatible smartphone, if you don’t have one, starts at 300€. The app offers 1 month free trial, after which is costs either 2,99€ or 4,99€ per month or 29,99€/49,99€ per year, as subscription, usage linked to 1 smartphone.Introducing this practice establishes higher standards of animal health and welfare, which gives value to the final product. Setting a higher standard throughout the entire market becomes welfare for all, consumers and producers included, not just animals.
Transnational impact: Early detection of hyperthermia will be beneficial to every country, especially in times of disease spread, like ASF. It is a useful tool to stop disease outbreak of a farm, through early detection and application of local measures established in each country that can prevent further spread. Fighting global antimicrobial resistance is the ultimate goal of degree2act, we work hard towards preserving the efficacy of existent therapeutic resources, so that both humans and animals can use those.

Broad bean (Vicia faba) was added in the crop rotation. Broad bean cultivation improves the growth of grains, and cultivation cost of beans is low. Earlier barley, wheat, oatmeal, broad bean, liquid barley protein (a by-product of barley starch production from Altia Koskenkorva distillery) and an additional protein concentrate was used in the two-stage feeding of fattening pigs. Due to the ingredient basis with high protein content of the crops the utilization of the broad bean was low. To increase the usage of local grown protein in pig feed, we developed a tailored premix together with a local feed company (Rehux) and HKScan in 2017. In the beginning the viscosity of the premix was too low due to the amount of oil and the accuracy of dosing small volumes was poor. The accuracy of dosing was improved by turning of the mixer while dosing the premix.
Cost benefit: The farm needed to invest in a new mineral dispenser and it’s conveyors. Broad beans are now grown on a larger area (+150 %) which is also more sensible in the crop rotation. The amount of broad bean in feeding could be increased (+ 200 %). The self sufficiency rate of feedstuffs was increased (7 % if calculated of energy content). Production values in 2016 vs. 2018: Feed conversion ratio 2,7 vs. 2,6 Daily weight gain 960 vs. 1050 g/day Lean-% has remained constant, around 59 % The genetics play a more significant role than feeding.
Transnational impact: GMO-free pig fattening Increasing the self-sufficiency rate in protein feedstuff Variegation of the crop rotation No climate impact of soy transport.

The sows and their piglets are housed in individual pens. The practice is to cut openings in the panels (20 cm x 30 cm) between the pens so that the piglets can move from one pen to another. Doors are placed on these openings during the first week of life of the piglets, then removed allowing piglets free access between pens. The piglets can thus be mixed during the lactating period, which facilitates the adaptation at weaning. At weaning, pens of 26 piglets are formed. Observations made on these piglets compared to piglets not familiarized during the lactating period show a number of lesions much lower 5 days after arrival in the nursery, especially on the ears and the front of the piglets: 26% of the piglets familiarized have scratches, while 98% of unfamiliar piglets have scratches
Cost benefit analysis: Familiarized piglets show better growth, 552 g / day compared to 442 g / day for piglets unfamiliar over a period of 12 days after weaning (nursery phase). This practice also made it possible to limit the frequency of arthritis after weaning and thus to reduce the use of antibiotics on this phase
Transnational Impact: System easily adaptable to indoor production systems

The farm produced standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the care of the piglets throughout the farrowing process. These SOPs give clear uniform instructions as to each stage of the process from biosecurity to cross fostering of animals to ensure the best survival and final weaning weight. The SOPs were constructed in conjunction with Wageningen University as part of the pig vitality project. Farmers, vets and advisors were asked which factors impacted piglet survival and production. These were then ranked and set into the SOPs. The SOPs are presented as checklists, with areas of underperformance easily identifiable for the production staff. Examples of the checklist and SOPs are available from the EUPiG website.
Cost benefit: With this style of farming 2% more piglets are brought up per sow. This was 15,5 per sow and is now 15.8. There are 800 sows on the farm so this was 12.400 piglets and is now 12.640. The cost of the extra employee amounts to 600 euros a week. The euthanasia box costs 3000 euros and the gas costs around 20 euros a month. The cost for the feed stays the same. The farm also introduced extra nesting material and bedding for the piglets. The prices of the piglets does not go up but more piglets surviving means more can be sold.
Transnational impact: Less dead piglets is always positive for the company. Less mortality means more piglets sold. Public opinion is shifting towards more animal friendliness. In this way other countries and respond to it.

Feedback data (lung & liver) from the slaughter plant was incorporated into a dashboard system to look at various production & management parameters on the farm including: ePM herd performance figures, biosecurity assessment, pluck (lungs and liver), tail check & antimicrobial benchmarking. The main variables used for the dashboard are imported into an excel database used to produce a report which allows for benchmarking and setting targets. The main identified issue was the high levels of pleurisy and pericarditis. which the farmer didn't realise were a problem. Thus, the dashboard changed his focus into control of these by better batch management, reduced mixing and creating separated streams for weak pigs. This resulted in improved performance via improved pig health and associated reduced use of antibiotics. Weaner ADG has increased from 433 to 486g/day.

Breeders in the AOP (PDO protected designation of origin) Kintoa have chosen the specifications required to enable the production of a high value-added product, by protecting a living heritage (the Basque Pork breed), while preserving its territory (intermediate zone of mountains maintained, moors, forests, grasslands), and developing the activity on its territory: - Purebred animals - Extensive raising for more than 12 months - Non-GMO food from the geographical area of the PDO (70%) - Pastoral empties 2 to 4 months after each batch - Wooden shed integrated into the landscape - Valorization of natural resources - Slow growth of animals. Slaughtering at a minimum of 12 months, minimum carcass weight of 100 kg and minimum backfat thickness of 25 mm. KINTOA PDO meat is a deep red meat, very marbled (content of intramuscular lipids> 6% in the loin), a white fat, a silky touch. After cooking, the meat is tender and juicy. The requirement of the specifications allows the production of a quality product and a good valuation of the carcass price paid to the farmers. In 2017, the average price was € 3.69 / kg carcass. The price scale can go up to 4.07 € / kg and an annual increase estimates a carcass price in 2020 of 4.35 € / kg.

For each category of sow prolificacy and parity, an average piglet weight to target is calculated in order to guarantee the maximum survival of piglet. A record of the litter’s piglets average birth weight of each sows & calculated the ratio between this value and the Target weight. This ratio is called KALINAT index. An index over 1 is an indicator of a good quality birth piglet. The farmer had some sows (24%) with a bad KALINAT index, after weaning he grouped these sows, and increased the quantity of feed during gestating period until birth. The implementation of the KALINAT approach led to 180g increase in the average birth weight of piglets from sows with a low KALINAT index, thereby reducing the rate of losses under the mother: reduction of the rate of losses on liveborns by 2.6% in absolute value, i.e. + 0.41 weaned/litter (2018 reference versus 2019 reference). The proportion of sows with a low KALINAT index decreased from 24% to 19%. A stability of the average birth weight was also observed even if the prolificacy increased sharply (passage from 15.1 total births to 16.48 total births from 2017 to 2019) which should have led to a decrease in average weight. The economic impact (reduction in liveborn losses) represents an increase of 1 pig produced/sow/year, a positive change in gross margin of €24,000 at the farm level (360 sows present) The economical gains linked to fewer small piglets in the weaning phase have not been evaluated but are also significant.

The challenge to improve farm work efficiency Innovation: A 5S lean programme was developed for the maintenance, mineral storage, medicine storage & weaner mixing room areas. This was done by mapping of areas of production (Process mapping), training of staff, implementing the programme, monitoring progress (checklists & audits) & addressing areas for improvement (Kaizen Groups). A control chart is used & is numbered & colour coded, with scores up to 6 being red (signifying substantial action needed, 7-8 amber (minor corrections needed) and 9-10 (acceptable). Fully implemented 5S saved over 30 minutes per day per person from having an organised workplace. Waste and poor processes will continue to be exposed in the future rollout of 5S, which will hopefully generate further savings of €10,000 to €20,000 per year. Further process mapping has shown areas of ‘waste’ e.g. producing piglets for a market with low achievable value has meant production has switched to 100% finishing. This has provided more finisher spaces without building expansion. Total cost savings are estimated at circa. €70,000 per year.