Klaus Bjerre is a farmer through and through. But not long ago, he considered giving up pig farming due to high sow mortality. Less than two years later, survival is up to 95% – and the solutions were simpler than expected.
Klaus Bjerre and his wife run a DanBred multiplication farm in Denmark, where they manage 460 DanBred Landrace sows. The sows are efficient and care well for their piglets, which aligns with today’s growing demand for sustainable pig production. However, just a few years ago, sow longevity in the herd could be improved.
First step was asking for advice
Klaus reached out to Kasper Panduro, Chief Advisor for DanBreds Breeding & Multiplication herds and a specialist in purebred gilts and sows. Kasper gave him some practical advice, especially on feeding, and the results showed as early as the next herd efficiency report.
“I quickly saw how much small routines and details matter,” Klaus says.
“Kasper made it clear that you need to feed and management based on the genetics and sows you have, not just stick to old habits.”
In recent years, DanBred has improved traits in finisher pigs, such as growth, feed efficiency and meat quality. However, gilts have different nutritional needs, and the feeding strategy must be adjusted to support both productivity and longevity.
What you feed is what you get
Thanks to genetic progress, slaughter pigs grow faster than ever, and they need high levels of protein to support that growth. The same is not the case for gilts: if they grow too quickly, they can’t develop the recommended backfat level before first mating which research has shown is important for both productivity and sow longevity.
To prevent this, Klaus adjusted the gilt feed: he lowered the protein levels slightly and added a fiber mix. The gilts also get a small portion of cake mix, and they are all scanned before first service to ensure they have the right body condition.
He also started using a specific toxin binder and kept using it, regardless of the harvest reports:
“We reduced the toxin binder, but things quickly went wrong again. Things stabilized when we raised the levels back to normal. So yes, we might save a bit by leaving it out, but we’ve found something that really works for the sows and for us,” he says.
Feed the sows before moving
Another key change was to stop moving sows before feeding them. It may sound simple, but Klaus is sure it matters.
“We noticed that organ torsion often occurred after moving the sows. Now that we feed beforehand, those incidents have been reduced significantly. We agreed to always do it the same way,” he explains.
It also means removing loose boards, feeding carts or anything else that could tip over, startle the pigs or block their path. And that consistency has paid off. The little things really do matter, Klaus emphasizes.
Results that speak for themselves
Improving sow survival didn’t just boost the numbers. The staff quickly became involved, and it almost turned into competition: how much could they improve sow survival?
In less than 18 months, sow survival rose from 82% to 95%. Piglet survival also remained high in the farrowing unit, and the latest report showed 36.8 pigs per sow per year with their purebred sows. The team now supports each other in maintaining the new routines.
It’s also about welfare
Improved sow survival is also better for business, but that was never the main reason Klaus decided to make a change. His motivation came from wanting a healthy sow herd where responsibility and animal welfare go hand in hand.
”It’s important to show the public that our sows are doing well and are cared for. And when we take care of our sows, better results usually follow too,” he says.
Vestsalling Opformering didn’t need big investments or high-tech solutions to improve sow longevity. With a few key changes to daily routines and feeding adjustments, they’ve improved sow longevity and continue to strive for even better results.
