The AFBI Hillsborough unit offers specialist pig production research capability designed to conduct detailed scientific investigations in the areas of production, nutrition, welfare and meat quality.

The 150 sow herd based at AFBI Hillsborough is managed as a commercial herd. The research facility offers the capability to enable sows and pigs to be individually fed whilst group housed. Specialist equipment also allows for the digestibility of nutrients to be measured from growing and finishing pigs, as well as gaseous emissions via a specialised animal metabolism unit. Flexible pen sizes can be adapted for both growing and finishing pigs.

Key research expertise:

• Nutrition and feeding management to improve performance efficiency and meat quality
• Investigating the nutritive value of ‘new’ and traditional raw materials in pig feed
• Reducing the environmental footprint of pig production
• Reducing the variability in growth rate among pigs
• Maximizing performance output of small piglets from large litters
• Enhancing sow longevity and performance outputs
• Animal welfare, including tail biting, enrichment, transport and stress; pre-empting and advising on the effect of proposed welfare legislation

Specialist equipment includes:

• Spotmix kitchen delivering 20 diets to individual pens
• MLP feeder stations for individual animal feed intakes and weights
• Mobile DEXA scanner assessing carcass quality and bone density
• High resolution Infrared Thermography Camera to assess pig welfare, health and environment conditions

Impact

Advancing the development of new feed products and increasing the efficiency of meat production; optimising animal production and welfare.

Supporting the Grand Challenges facing livestock food production:

Climate Smart Food Systems

Resource Efficiency & Precision Nutrition

Health & Welfare Management