Enhancing the competitiveness of the swine sector requires the optimization of farming practices. Precision nutrition enables producers to align nutrient supply with the animals’ actual requirements, while effective stress management promotes welfare and performance. Combined, these approaches contribute to more efficient, sustainable, and ethically responsible pig production systems.
Pig Nutritionist
Techna
Amid growing economic and environmental pressures, the swine industry must strengthen its competitiveness while addressing societal expectations concerning sustainability and animal welfare. Competitiveness depends on the ability of farms to produce efficiently, to innovate, and to adapt to economic and regulatory constraints, while meeting quality and sustainability standards. Feed costs represent more than 60% of the total production cost of finisher pigs in Europe, making nutrition a key lever for improving competitiveness. Although often viewed as a charge, feed should also be regarded as an investment to enhance technical performance and margin over feed costs.
Precision nutrition is a crucial means of optimizing feed efficiency, reducing nitrogen emissions, and improving techno-economic performance. Simultaneously, stress management plays a vital role in regulating behavior, maintaining physiological health, and enhancing product quality. At Techna, we have developed an integrated approach combining both precision nutrition and animal welfare to boost the techno-economic performance of fattening pigs.
NUTRITIONAL QUALIFICATION OF RAW MATERIALS
A detailed characterization of raw materials used in animal feeding is the first step toward implementing precision nutrition in pig production. At Techna, fecal digestibility trials are conducted on finisher pigs to determine specific nutrient values, enabling more efficient utilization of raw materials in feed formulation. A recent example is the development of a predictive equation for the net energy value of finishing diets.
This equation is based on improved nutrient digestibility—particularly of fibers and amino acids—as pigs grow. Recent studies have demonstrated a 2.6% increase in energy digestibility between pigs weighing 35 kg and 75 kg, attributed to better utilization of fibers (NDF, hemicellulose, cellulose) and nitrogen. This allows for a more accurate description of the energy value of raw materials according to fiber content and pig weight. The difference between growth (7–75 kg) and finishing (75–130 kg) net energy values depend on the nutritional characteristics of raw materials—whether rich in starch or fat (corn, sorghum, soybean) compared with fiber-rich ingredients (sunflower meal, beet pulp, soybean hulls).
Formulating based on this criterion allows better utilization of fiber-rich coproducts during the finishing phase, yielding an economic advantage of €0.80–1.00 per ton of feed, depending on the diet’s net energy level. It also helps reduce the environmental footprint of feed, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.4% (kg CO₂ equivalent).
PRECISE DETERMINATION OF PIGS’ NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Accurately estimating the nutritional requirements of fattening pigs is a cornerstone of precision feeding, ensuring an optimal match between nutrient supply and animal needs. This estimation can be achieved through performance analysis to identify feed intake patterns and growth potential. Significant variability exists between genetic lines, as well as within populations. At Techna, experimental trials are conducted to determine performance potential according to genotype and to assess the impact of nutritional modulation on zootechnical responses. The goal is to precisely understand the interaction between genetics potential and nutrition.
For instance, pigs from two genetic lines were fed three different lysine digestible levels (high, medium, low) ad libitum from 30 to 120 kg. Genetics had a major influence on performance, with differences of 86 g/day in average daily gain (ADG) and 0.15 points in feed conversion ratio (FCR), and different lysine-to-net energy ratios to achieve optimal efficiency depending on genotype. Consequently, these variations in performance potential imply strong variability in nutritional requirements, highlighting the need to adapt nutritional recommendations according to genetics.
The feeding program also had a clear independent effect: the high-lysine program yielded +175 g/day higher ADG and -0.35 points lower FCR compared with the low-lysine program. However, reducing lysine levels lowered feed costs by €11 per pig through a €35/ton cheaper diet but resulted in a €24/pig loss in feed margin. These findings show that cutting investment in feed does not improve competitiveness but only reduces overall feed cost due to negative impacts on performance and margin.
MAXIMIZE MARGIN WITH OPTIMAL FEEDING STRATEGIES
Identifying the best techno-economic strategy based on the animal’s genetic potential is essential to maximize feed margin. To this end, Techna has developed digital solutions such as the Wefeed platform, composed of three modules:
• Wefeed Check – analyzes improvement levers on the farm.
• Wefeed Nutri – optimizes feeding strategies for finisher pigs.
• Wefeed Carcass – maximizes farmer income by optimizing slaughter strategy.
Wefeed Nutri predicts pig performance at the individual level based on feeding strategy (feed composition and feeding program) and the techno-economic context (pig price, feed cost), allowing identification of the optimal feeding strategy.
Techna also invests in on-farm data collection and analysis through its joint-venture Kumulus. The objective is to refine performance prediction equations and promote dynamic, real-time data use. Pilot farms are equipped with precision-feeding systems that monitor consumption and growth while enabling individualized daily feed distribution. Performance data analysis allows prediction of pigs’ daily nutritional needs to fine-tune feeding and avoid both deficiencies and excesses. Techna has quantified the benefits of precision feeding: compared with a two-phase strategy, it increased feed margin by 8% and reduced nitrogen excretion by 23%.
REDUCE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
In modern production systems, pigs are exposed to multiple stress factors such as heat, stocking density, competition for feed or water, and transport. These challenges significantly affect animal welfare and productivity, leading to major economic losses. Stress alters pig behavior, increasing the frequency of aggressive interactions, which can cause injuries, infections, and higher medication use, while reducing growth and carcass quality. The associated losses are estimated at more than €1.60 per pig, and when mortality increases by 1–2%, losses may rise to €90–120 per pig. Overall, economic losses due to stress—including its effects on growth, feed efficiency, health, behavior, and carcass quality—are estimated to exceed €6 per pig on average.
To mitigate aggressive behavior and improve profitability, Techna developed Robus Zen, a natural solution based on plant extracts and aromatic compounds. Robus Zen composition exerts calming effects by modulating neurotransmitters. It also supports digestive, antioxidant, and immune functions, thereby reducing the negative impact of aggressive behavior on performance. Field trials demonstrated that pigs receiving Robus Zen at 1 kg/t showed reduced physical activity throughout the finishing period and 42% fewer aggressive behaviors (such as tail and ear biting). Mortality and culling due to severe lesions or digestive disorders were also reduced.
By promoting more positive social interactions, Robus Zen enhances feed efficiency and growth performance. Recent trials reported an average improvement of 6.1% in growth rate and a 5.6% better feed conversion ratio. The average return on investment was 1:4, corresponding to an improvement of €5.7 per pig in feed margin.
In sows, it has been shown that cortisol and adrenaline—stress hormones—act antagonistically to oxytocin and prolactin, which are involved in farrowing and milk production. Recent data revealed reduced salivary cortisol levels during farrowing in sows supplemented with Robus Zen, resulting in fewer stillbirths (from 7.0% to 4.6%) and a 1.9 kg improvement in litter weaning weight.
Techna experts provide tailored support to optimize the use of Robus Zen according to farm conditions and feeding strategies, with objectives such as:
• Calmer animals during high-risk periods.
• Reduced aggressive behaviors and improved social interactions.
• Enhanced fattening performance (ADG, FCR).
• Calmer animals during periods of risk during farrowing and lactation (fewer stillbirths, higher litter weights).
• Nutritional support for Animal Welfare-certified production systems (intact tails, entire males, etc.).
About Tristan Brehelin
Holder of a Master’s degree in Animal Production, Tristan Brehelin has worked as a swine nutritionist for over a decade at Techna. His career includes leading R&D for the swine business, providing technical support for key accounts, and developing a range of swine additives and decision-support tools to predict technical and economic performance trends.
