The Netherlands looks to natural swine housing

While Europe tends towards intensive swine barns with forced ventilation and expensive air filtering systems, Dutch engineers are emphasizing more natural means


by NORMAN DUNN

By focusing on natural ventilation, continual manure removal and outdoor access for animals, the swine sector in the Netherlands is investigating an even more sustainable approach to production.

The watchwords in a new housing concept being developed by a consortium of Dutch farm building companies and livestock farming experts at Wageningen University are low energy demand, minimum emissions and higher animal welfare.

Better Pork - August 2011