Abstract: Welfare First in Housing Pigs

Type and Average of Pigs on the Farm

The farm maintains approximately 2,400 grower-finishers.

Farming System

Intensive, small-scale production system.

Description and Evaluation of the Good Practice

Since 2003, this farm has worked to prioritise the needs of its pigs, gradually moving from older, dark and poorly ventilated rented facilities toward a vision of airy, bright housing that is easier to maintain and pleasant to work in. In 2021, that vision was realised with a newly built pig house, followed by renovation of the older facility. Pigs now have ample space — approximately 1 m² up to 110 kg and slightly more thereafter. Each room has windows and LED lighting on a schedule of four periods of 1.5 hours per day, and all pigs can feed simultaneously from long troughs using a component-based liquid feeding system tailored to different age groups. Pens combine two-thirds solid flooring and one-third slats, with the solid area next to the corridor so manure is pushed toward the slatted section. The new facility has eight rooms of 12 pens, providing space for up to 1,920 pigs plus dedicated sick pens; combined with the renovated older building, the farm offers around 2,400 finishing places. Floor heating maintains 23°C during the initial days, gradually reducing to 18°C, with heat sourced from geothermal energy and recovered from manure, supplemented by oil-based heating in winter. Sawdust bedding is supplied daily, and straw is provided via racks, complemented with rubber toys or wooden sticks if signs of tail biting appear. A pre-washing system sprays water over the defecation area four times a day to keep pens clean and soak dirt before washing.

Farm Context

• Pigs: Pigs are sorted by gender at arrival, with no mixing afterwards. Each room has two sick pens where bitten or biting pigs can be isolated if needed.
• Environmental Enrichment: Sawdust bedding is distributed daily from 25 kg bales, with straw available from racks refilled daily; rubber toys or wooden sticks are added if tail biting symptoms appear.
• Housing and Management Characteristics: Space available is approximately 1 m²/pig from 30–110 kg and 1.1 m²/pig from 110–135 kg, with two-thirds solid and one-third slatted flooring. Each pen houses 12 pigs, with daily cleaning and monitoring. Cool air, sufficient space, mostly solid flooring, high biosecurity and a high health status support animal health.
• Management Practices: Cleaning and enrichment are carried out from the corridor, supporting good air quality. Pigs can eat simultaneously and receive good-quality feed.

Economic Analysis

Total costs, including the feed kitchen and external slurry tank, were €700 per pig in the new building and €387 per pig for renovation of the old building, covering new floors, pens, feeding pipes, ventilation, electricity, spraying pipes and the pre-washing system. The new facility took about a year from planning to completion, while the old house was renovated room by room afterwards. Tail biting incidents have fallen to the point of no longer being a financial issue.

Environmental Analysis

The farm uses around 6,000 m³ of slurry annually to fertilise its own fields, in cooperation with neighbouring farms. Emissions are not measured directly, but heat-collecting pipes at the bottom of the slurry pits help keep ammonia levels low while recovering thermal energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Water use is approximately 9,000 m³ per year, partly from the farm's own well and partly purchased, including water used for washing.

Replicable Benefits and Relevance for Other EU Countries

Ample space allowance reduces stress and aggression and allows pigs to express natural behaviours, while bright, well-ventilated housing with scheduled lighting supports health and comfort. Optimised flooring and ventilation improve air quality and hygiene, and component-based liquid feeding allows tailored nutrition with reduced competition at the trough. Renovated or newly built facilities are easier to maintain, improving working conditions, and the design supports gradual expansion and adoption of further welfare technologies.