As I mentioned, it’s really hard to say, but we’ve done several things.

The animals should be in good condition. We make sure they get up to eat and drink two to three times a day, it’s good for their health and it also makes it possible for us to get a good look at them. It’s very important that the sows drink plenty of water, and to ensure a good gut health we use Fibermix in the feed. We clean the system for liquid feed – including pipes – twice a year.

In the fall 2021, we got a new, dedicated employee at the multiplication. First of all, he’s here fulltime, which means he checks all the sow multiple times throughout the day. The more you’re present in the stables, the higher the probability that you discover the sickness early on, and with that, the MUCH higher the probability of the sow getting well again. Second of all, he’s also implemented a few new management routines that may have had an impact, e.g., he gives the sows more straw than they previously got. And then, he’s just really good.

I have three fulltime employees at the multiplication, and two fulltime employees at the finisher farm – which means I can work part time. Dedicated and motivated employees are really important, when we talk about best management practices.

We attach great importance to the raw materials.

We produce as much of our own grain as we can, and then we buy the rest – about 30-40 % – locally. We prefer to buy it locally, because we can be certain of what we get, how it’s produced etc