Brazil, breeding and iberico hams in Pig Progress 2

Underestimated: Brazil’s role on the pig meat market

Globally, Brazil ranked 4th in pig meat production in 2022, and in pig meat exports, the country was ranked 7th, with special cuts playing a significant role. How did Brazil’s pig meat production and trade develop between 2012 and 2022? Pages 6-9.

Column: Nutrition and pig genotype

On page 11, columnist Francesc Molist, R&D manager at Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands, discusses the impact of feeding strategies on post-weaning diarrhoea, and the addition of functional feed additives.

4 key lessons for managing large litters

Hyperprolific sows are producing more and more offspring, but how do we manage them all to ensure the vast majority reaches weaning in good health? Veterinary practitioners in Denmark – where, in 2018, an average of 17.2 liveborn piglets were born per litter – have been documenting best practices, as discussed on pages 14-15.

Breeding is part of the solution to challenges

This article on pages 16-17 takes a closer look at how far breeding can go to provide animals with genetics that suit the production systems of the future, and thereby ease concerns about the environment, climate and animal welfare – a major challenge.

Farm visit: Valuable ibérico hams, from birth to market

Making world-famous Spanish pata negra hams is an art. Antonio José Cano Cabrera in the south of Spain owns 70 sows. He controls the entire chain from the birth of the black piglets to processing and sale of the hams a few years later. Pig Progress visited his farm in the Córdoba province. Pages 18-21.

Securing sow longevity starts early in a gilt’s life

The 15th Feet First seminar was held in Spain in January. The series is an initiative of Zinpro and the theme this year was ‘Maximising gilt rearing for herd performance and longevity – exploring options’. The audience, which consisted of about 120 pig experts from 18 countries, listened to 5 experts.

Taking on the director’s role in the pig business – an interview with Wyno Zwanenburg

A new umbrella platform in the Netherlands, CoViVa, consists of most pig-related stakeholders and aims to address major topics that impact the sector. Since 2023, Wyno Zwanenburg – previously a pig producer – has been its chairman. “This is about a common agenda for an entire industry,” he says. Hear more about this venture in an interview with Zwanenburg on pages 28-31.

Column: Microclimates for reduced energy costs and improved pig welfare

Keeping pigs at the recommended temperatures comes at an (increasing) cost? What are the alternatives, and what do they mean to pig health? Pig welfare expert Dr Irene Camerlink discusses the options. Page 34.