WelFarmers

🎥 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞!

This time we highlight the Good Practice “Loose Lactation & Piglet Commingling”, from the topic Ban of Cages.

In this video, Jason McGrath, farmer and co-owner of Ashleigh Farms in Ireland, explains how their good practice involves the use of 6.5 m² lactation pens with farrowing crates that are opened between day 4 and day 7, allowing sows more freedom of movement. Piglets are allowed to co-mingle from 20 days of age and are weaned at 28 days.
This approach supports piglet socialization and reduces stress at weaning. Watch the full videopill now!

🎥 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞!

In the topic “Ban of cages”, we present the Good Practice “Easy Access Creep” — a pen design that improves piglet care and reduces stress for both animals and staff.

By placing the covered creep area near the passageway, caretakers can check litters daily without entering the pen.

▶ Watch the videopill now and learn how this design supports better welfare in loose housing systems.

🎥 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞!

This Good Practice supports pig farmers in transitioning to undocked tail production. The Risk Assessment Tool helps identify key risk factors for tail biting, including water supply, feed quality, rooting material, climate, health and management. The tool provides a checklist and action plan to evaluate and address risks on-farm.

Watch the full videopill now and learn more about this tool!

Agriculture & Foodhas published an article about the WelFarmers project, highlighting Denmark’s leading role in implementing practical pig welfare solutions.

The article explains how Danish partners are turning vision into action — with real examples of loose housing, intact tails, and pen design improvements already in place on farms.

Read the full article now!

Cardboard Pigs – Decision Support Tool is a practical, low-cost, and scalable solution to improve pen design for loose housing of lactating sows.

Using scale models and a checklist, it allows farmers to visualise and compare layouts before construction, reducing the risk of poor investments and helping ensure more welfare-friendly facilities.

Watch the videopill now and learn more about this tool!

Within the topic "Pigs with undocked tails", we introduce one of the selected Best Practices: More and changing rooting material.

This approach monitors pigs for early signs of tail biting and responds by providing additional and varied rooting materials like straw or beet pellets. By encouraging natural exploratory behaviours, this practice helps prevent tail biting outbreaks and improves overall animal welfare.

🎥 Watch the videopill now and discover how such a small change can make a big difference!

We continue sharing the selected Best Practices from Round 1 of the WelFarmers project!

This time, we spotlight the practice “Solid flooring with extra space for finishers” under the topic Space allowance and flooring. The farm introduces solid floors, increased space allowance, and active slurry removal systems to reduce emissions and improve pig welfare. A functional, low-emission design that enhances comfort, reduces aggression, and supports pigs with long tails.

🎥 Discover more from Tomas Ryan in the full videopill!

📍 Yesterday, November 19, 2025, WelFarmers was present at the EPP - European Pig Producer meeting in Dublin!

Our collaborator Neil Joseph Tirchett presented the WelFarmers project, focusing on the winning Good Practices from Round 1 and encouraging all EPP members to spread the word in their countries and networks.

Thank you for this opportunity!

As part of the ‘Ban of cages’ topic, this new video presents a good practice implemented on Krannestrup farm in Denmark.

Since 2013, the farm has adopted a temporary confinement system during the first days after farrowing to reduce piglet mortality and improve working conditions. The method involves limiting the sow’s ability to turn by adjusting the front of the creep area — without resorting to permanent confinement.

🎥 Watch the videopill on YouTube now!

As part of the “Ban of cages” topic, we present the good practice MamaGuide, developed by a Danish farmer who has been managing loose lactating sows since 2007.

MamaGuide is a floor-mounted pen device that prevents sows from rolling, significantly reducing the risk of piglet crushing — one of the main challenges in loose housing systems. It can be installed in both new and existing pens, regardless of the manufacturer.

🎥 Watch the video on YouTube now!

On October 25th, we organised a workshop during 𝐅𝐀𝐙𝐈 – 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 in Montichiari (Italy) together with our Italian partners CRPA and ANAS, focused on good practices for pig welfare in view of the upcoming changes in EU legislation.

🐷 The session was opened by Maurizio Gallo (ANAS), followed by a presentation of the WelFarmers project by Paolo Ferrari (CRPA). Then, Paolo Ferrari, Maurizio Gallo and Manolo Cappelloni (ANAS) shared some of the best practices identified in the project.

We wapped up the event with an open discussion with the audience and final reflections.

Photography by ©️ European Commission

In this videopill, Martin Andreasen from Moellegaarden explains how drained flooring improves hygiene, pig welfare, and environmental performance on his farm.

This innovative system combines the advantages of solid and slatted floors, supporting pigs' natural behaviour while reducing ammonia emissions. A good practice selected within the topic Space Allowance & Flooring of the WelFarmers project.

🎥 Watch the video on YouTube now!

Discover how the ‘Happy Tail’ approach is improving pig welfare by eliminating tail docking and teeth clipping.

In this new videopill, Paolo Santi explains how this set of practical measures addresses the root causes of tail biting through better housing, enrichment, and management — ensuring healthier pigs and happier farmers.

🎥 Watch the video on YouTube now!