Document type : Conference report published in Réussir Porc
Author : Armelle Puybasset
Preview: At the Evel'up Research and Development forum, farmers and technicians discussed practical ways to adapt to changing societal expectations, particularly in terms of animal welfare.
Having put together a well-resourced research and development department in 2018, the Evel'up group had set out to provide concrete, field-tested solutions that were always technically and financially achievable for farmers. The first R & D forum held in December 2020 demonstrated this. With a focus on future challenges, its objective was to provide a response to farmers' concerns, whether these were on more immediate issues such as how to comply with regulations (requirements for enrichment with manipulable objects and watering systems), or longer-term issues such as protein autonomy.
"The goal is to give farmers a toolbox to find the best way to respond, taking on a more proactive role," explains Philippe Bizien, the group's chairman. The forum was held using unprecedented technical support, combining videoconferencing and meetings on four sites to comply with the constraints of the Covid-19 situation, alternating between reports on research and contributions from farmers, particularly on the subject of animal welfare. […]
A significant additional cost of tail docking
Evel'up has evaluated the financial impact of tail docking following two farm trials. For a typical farm of 250 sows, producing 6,325 piglets per year and no longer carrying out tail docking, it amounts to nearly 54,000 euros per year, or 8.40 euros per pig. […]
Better post-weaning DAG with a mezzanine
By increasing the available floor space by 30%, the installation of a mezzanine in the post-weaning period resulted in a daily weight gain increase of 12.5 grammes (i.e. 531 g as compared with 518 g for the control group.
Image analysis to improve detection of flu symptoms
Evel'up's veterinary and R & D departments have developed an experimental model to detect signs of respiratory pathologies by using "machine learning", which uses algorithms to provide automated image analysis. […]
No tooth grinding (resection) carried out for 95 % of litters
The SCEA de Kermerrien has succeeded in stopping the systematic grinding of piglets' teeth by using a monitoring grid as a decision-making tool. […]
What do manipulable materials cost?
Following a series of trials on manipulable materials to meet the needs of the different physiological stages and based on feedback from breeders, the R & D team calculated the cost per animal for the enrichment materials that proved to be the most effective in the trials, in terms of practicality and regulatory compliance.
