Eye On Europe: Swiss group nursing system cuts costs, improves health and performance

Savings of up to 15 per cent can be realized by converting old barns to the system, which results in less stress for piglets and improved temperament for group nursing sows

by NORMAN DUNN

More group nursing could be introduced in sow herds, according to Barbara Früh of the Organic Agriculture Research Institute (FiBL) in Frick, Switzerland. The system has sows moving from individual farrowing pens after a minimum 10 days suckling into groups of usually four with a minimum 3.5 square metres of lying area per sow and litter.

Better Pork February 2008