Animal welfare is taking an increasingly important place in pig production. Adding more constraints to pig producers by animal welfare legislation is a tendency that cannot continue forever. Dr Hans Spoolder, cluster leader animal health and welfare at Wageningen UR Livestock Research in the... Read more >

The way is open for EU swine producers to raise male pigs intact, with improved feed conversion and carcass quality compared to castrates, while still reducing boar taint as effectively as castration. In this series, Pig Progress focuses on the journey to develop a vaccine to control boar taint,... Read more >

The Netherlands used to be a country where cost efficiency was a key element in production. Surface area requirements and increasing prices for manure disposal are likely, however, to change that picture. A Dutch comparative study into cost prices around the world reveals a gloomy picture. Read more >

Events like transport stress have been shown to cause a number of physical changes in the flavour and quality of pigmeat. Therefore, proper animal welfare standards during transporting are important to both animals and the processing industry. Read more >

The year 2009 might provide a lot of answers for those eager to find out what pig production will be like without male piglet castration. Norway has been considering an outright ban, the Netherlands will make anaesthesia mandatory and Switzerland is the first European country to allow... Read more >

The year 2009 might provide a lot of answers for those eager to find out what pig production will be like without male piglet castration. Norway has been considering an outright ban, the Netherlands will make anaesthesia mandatory and Switzerland is the first European country to allow vaccinating... Read more >

Affluent consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about how pigs are reared; this means the practice of male piglet castration is a growing issue. As the practice is considered necessary, there is a growing need to find 'humane' ways of piglet castration. How to do that? Here's a... Read more >

Judging the usefulness of pig welfare materials should not stop at the evaluation of pig wellbeing. What about the implications for farm management? Research at Wageningen University attempts to consider these aspects. Read more >

Organic pig production is a part of the European pig scene and is also gaining in propularity in the USA. A new concept, however, called Natural Pork, is helping hard pressed Oregon pig farmers survive. Read more >

Stress is undoubtedly an important factor in food animal production. Stressed animals are more susceptible to disease, produce lower quality meat and are less likely to grow as quickly or efficiently as they should. Avoiding unnecessary stress is not just good from an animal welfare point... Read more >