Sector manages to reduce piglet mortality

The piglet mortality on sow farms decreased slightly in 2016. This is apparent from a progress report from the Big Vitality steering group. The progress report was presented to the House of Representatives by State Secretary Martijn van Dam.

The piglet vitality steering group was set up in 2009 to reduce the mortality of piglets in sow farming. The steering group did not produce sufficient results, which prompted a renewed plan of approach. The first report has now been published.

Goal and results
The research focuses on reducing piglet mortality in the Netherlands. The basic principle is that the sow can raise her piglets independently. The plan examines, among other things, the optimal litter size and its effect on piglet quality. The market value of piglet quality is also examined.

The piglet mortality rate for the first 9 months of 2016 is 13,4 percent. In 2015, the piglet mortality was 13,5 percent. The provisional result for 2016 should therefore allow for a slight decrease.

What now?
The steering committee has now started a survey (among 100 pig farmers) to gain insight into success factors for vital piglets. And with it the desire for piglet mortality. The objective is, of course, to maintain the positive trend. "Knowledge sharing" should be the keyword to further reduce the percentage.

Entire chain thinks along
The steering committee is made up of various representatives from the entire chain, including pig farmers, the Association of Organic Pig Farmers, breeding organisations, veterinarians, the animal feed industry (Nevedi) and Livestock and Logistics Netherlands participate actively. The meat-processing companies and animal welfare also participate in this steering group.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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