Big Dutchman Signs up for VietStock Expo
VIET NAM - Livestock equipment company, Big Dutchman, has confirmed its participation at VietStock '10 Expo && Forum as 'Anchor Exhibitor'.

Feedback Sought on Code; ‘Pigs in Crates Forever’?
NEW ZEALAND - The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) yesterday completed a review of the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2005 and a draft code was released for public consultatio...

Hopes to Cut Time Sows are Restrained in Stalls
AUSTRALIA - The Aussie pig industry could be on the verge of an animal welfare breakthrough.

Pork Board Alleged to be Damaging Industry
NEW ZEALAND - The Pork Industry Board continues to damage its own brand with the revelation it is fighting to keep pigs in sow crates, Green Party Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley has alleged. ...

Biogas Know-How from Calveslage
GERMANY - Tierzuchtgut Losten in Bad Kleinen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is one of the most modern pig farms in Germany. In future, this innovative business enterprise will be heating its housing systems...

Keeping Pigs the Dutch Way in Russia
NETHERLANDS - Over the past two weeks, Russian pig farmer, Anastasia Kuzmicheva, has visited the Netherlands to learn about pig production there and to see Nedap Velos sow feeding stations in operation....

Better Welfare for Pigs in Trial Housing
NETHERLANDS - Scientifically designed houses and pens for pigs increase animal welfare, but from an economic point of view these are difficult to implement on existing pig farms.

RSPCA Calls for Ban of Intensive Pig Farms
TASMIANIA, AUSTRALIA - The new head of the RSPCA has called for a ban on intensive pig farming.

Swedish Pig Farms Flout Animal Protection Laws
SWEDEN - Living conditions for Swedish pigs are worse than previously realised, an animal rights group claims, citing its own video evidence.

Successful Transition from Planned to Market Economy
HUNGARY - András Tóth from Dunasczekcsŏ in southern Hungary, owner and director of the agricultural company Duna Gyöngye as well as owner of 850 sows kept in a closed system, has the guts to convert...

Technology Leader to Install 70-Station TEAM System
CHINA - Yangling Besun Agricultural Industry Group Corporation Limited has announced the installation of a 70-station TEAM® System in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China.

New Hungarian Pig Farm Uses Nedap Velos ESF
HUNGARY - In early October of 2009, Nedap dealer Firma Bräuer from Austria completed a new pig farm in western Hungary. The farm, set up for 1200 productive sows, will be housing the gestating sows in...

Agri Minister Inaugurates New Building for 4,000 Pigs
CROATIA - Spaces for 4,000 animals distributed over three very respectable looking new pig housing facilities, approximately 12,000 finishing pigs are expected to pass through per year: Željko Kurkutović,...

ACMC Tip: Autumn Airflow
UK - Temperatures are already dropping sharply at night so pig producers should make sure all flaps and fans in their buildings are working properly and that doors are closed at night.

Higher Risk of Abnormal Gait in Intensive Systems
UK - In a study of commercial farms, researchers found fewer cases of abnormal gait in finishing pigs than sows or gilts. Pigs kept outdoors or on solid floors with straw had fewer mobility problems than...

ACMC Tip: Avoid Greedy Pigman's Disease
UK - With high pig prices there is a temptation to push production as hard as possible. The advent of circovirus vaccines has allowed some producers to cut corners on stocking density, downtimes for cleaning...

Merial: Performance Data Drives Improvement
UK - A willingness to try new techniques is integral to Kevin Gilbert’s approach to improving pig production at Womblehill, Aberdeenshire. A recent visit to the unit demonstrated Kevin’s willingness to...

How to Improve Outdoor Huts for Sows and Piglets
UK - In its Annual Technical Report 2008-2009, BPEX includes a short report on work to investigate ways to minimise temperature fluctuations faced by sows and piglets kept outdoors.

Study to Influence Pen Configuration and Group Size
CANADA - Research conducted at the Prairie Swine Centre is expected to assist hog producers in deciding penning configurations and group sizes, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Agriculture Minister Outlines Pig Scheme
IRELAND - Pig farmers have welcomed the €13m scheme for converting sows to loose housing - a scheme recently announced by agriculture minister Brendan Smith.

Pork Industry Urged to Act on Animal Welfare
NEW ZEALAND - The pork industry should address consumer concerns about animal welfare and reductions to the length of time sows can be kept in dry stalls need to kick in sooner, Agriculture Minister David...

A Big Dutchman Opts for Big Dutchman
NETHERLANDS - Since 2001, Dutchman, Egbert Selten, has been proud owner of a pig farm in Narrandera, Australia.

Potential Advantages from Straw Based Sow Housing
CANADA - Research conducted at the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment indicates the adoption of certain animal welfare measures has the potential to increase profitability, writes Bruce...

Environment Information Hub for Producers
UK - Tackling environmental issues from fallen stock to climate change is at the centre of a one stop on-line shop for UK pig producers.

New Tool to Evaluate Swine Housing Costs Expected
CANADA - Scientists with the University of Manitoba hope to have a simulation model available this fall that will assist swine producers in comparing the economics of different breeding sow housing systems,...