1. The Wolters farm used to be a mixed facility with also dairy cows until 2004, when owner Wim Wolters moved to only pig production.

2. Wolters, age 48, breeds and grows piglets until they are about ten weeks of age. They are then sent for finishing in a different location nearby.

3. Wolters keeps his sows on a one week batch management system. He spends much attention to all stages of pig breeding.

4. According to a recent Dutch industry convenant, male piglets have to be anaesthesised prior to castration. Therefore the breeding section is equipped with these CO2 anaesthesising devices, supplied by MS Schippers Europe.

5. Wim Wolters currently has 450 sows, and about 2,000 piglets. This means his sows produce on average 31.4 piglets weaned/year, leading to 30.6 piglets raised/year.

6. Sows receive vaccinations for Streptococcus Suis, PRRS, Erysipelas, Parvovirus and E. coli.

7. For PCV2 vaccination, piglets receive 1/4 dose Circovac (Merial). Pre-weaning mortality is 10.8%; post-weaning mortality amounts to 1.7%. The piglets are weaned at 21 days.

8. Piglets receive creep feeding, distributed by Provimi; after weaning they receive compound feed supplied by Dutch feed cooperative ForFarmers.

9. In the dry sow facility, sows can only be kept for three weeks prior to be moved to free access stalls. Wolters uses Topigs 20 sows and Tempo boar genetics for AI.

10. After weaning, the piglets are moved to a grower section for six to seven weeks.

11. Wolters sends off his pigs for finishing in a nearby finishing facility at approximately ten weeks. As is mandatory in Holland, all pens are equipped with enrichment materials - like this ball on a chain.