Better Pork - June 2016

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Better Pork June 2016 49
growth worked out at the equivalent of C$0.71 against $0.68.
Dutch welfare group calls for limits on litter size
A national campaign to reduce litter mortality, launched by
Dutch swine producers over five years ago, not only completely
failed to improve piglet survival, but also rang alarm bells
amongst the country’s welfare groups. Now the Netherland’s Ac-
tion Group Swine in Danger (VIN) wants litter size to be limited
at birth. Extra piglets should be artificially reared or fostered
immediately, it demands.
Twenty years ago, the average Dutch sow had litters that
ranged from 10 to 11 piglets. By last year, this average figure had
risen to 14.4. Generally, the Danes still beat the Dutch in this
field, and French swine producers are also amongst the leaders
for litter size. Litter mortality has also remained much the same
(around 12 per cent) for years now, although Denmark and
France have exceeded 13 per cent in some of the last years (e.g.,
13.9 per cent and 13.6 per cent respectively in 2012).
EYE ONEUROPE
Will the sight of piglets piled around a nursing sow be a thing of the past in
Europe? Dutch Minister for Agriculture Martijn van Dam wants suckling litter
size to be controlled by law.
Piglet survival: comparing Europe’s biggest
litters with Irish figures
Denmark Netherlands France Ireland
Piglets born alive/
litter
14.80 13.60 13.20 12.33
Piglets weaned/litter 12.74 11.86 11.40 11.01
Litter mortality % 13.9 12.8 13.6 10.7
Sources: Irish Department of Agriculture and Danish Pig Research Centre (2012 figures)