Can a farm produce more with a lower environmental impact?

Pig production has undergone significant development over the past decades. Advances in genetics, nutrition, animal health, management and technology have helped improve production performance and make increasingly efficient use of available resources. This progress reflects a continuous effort to improve productivity, but it has also contributed to the transition towards more sustainable production models.

In this context, producing more does not necessarily mean using more resources in the same proportion. On the contrary, improving efficiency makes it possible to obtain higher returns from every kilogram of feed, every litre of water and every unit of energy used. The current challenge is to continue this progress by incorporating knowledge and technology that can optimise each stage of the production process.

Greater productivity through efficiency

Production efficiency is one of the main drivers of progress in the pig sector. Improving parameters such as feed conversion, growth, prolificacy and survival rates makes it possible to achieve better results with the same resources or reach a given production level by using these resources more precisely.

Genetics has played a fundamental role in this process by selecting animals with better production and health characteristics. At the same time, advances in nutrition have made it possible to formulate diets that are increasingly tailored to animals’ needs, while improvements in housing conditions and management help animals express their genetic potential.

Therefore, producing more efficiently is not simply about increasing the number of animals or the output of a farm, but about ensuring that every element involved in the process delivers the highest possible performance. This approach establishes a direct link between productivity and sustainability.

Feeding to make better use of nutrients

Feeding is one of the main areas in which improved efficiency can generate both production and environmental benefits. Good feed conversion means that a greater proportion of the nutrients supplied through feed is converted into growth, rather than requiring additional feed to achieve the same result.

Precision nutrition helps move in this direction. Animals’ nutritional requirements change as they develop, so providing a diet adapted to each stage allows nutrient supply to be adjusted more accurately. Multiphase feeding is an example of this strategy, as it allows feed composition to be gradually modified according to the animals’ actual needs.

In addition to optimising feed utilisation, more precise nutrition makes it possible to better control the amount of nutrients ultimately excreted. This facilitates their subsequent utilisation and contributes to more efficient management of the resources contained in pig slurry.

Water and energy, two resources that can also be optimised

Efficiency is also linked to how water and energy are managed on the farm. In the case of water, the aim is not to reduce its availability to animals, but to ensure they receive the supply they need while avoiding unnecessary losses.

The choice of water supply system, drinker flow rate, adjustment and maintenance are all factors that can directly influence consumption. A properly designed and adjusted system ensures adequate access to water while avoiding consumption that provides no production benefits. It can also facilitate subsequent slurry management by limiting the addition of unnecessary water.

As for energy, systems such as ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting must respond to actual needs at any given time. Automation and control systems make it possible to adapt their operation to the environmental conditions inside the building and the animals’ requirements, preventing this equipment from operating beyond what is necessary.

Therefore, energy efficiency does not mean using less energy regardless of the circumstances, but rather using it precisely to maintain suitable conditions for the animals and the farm’s operation.

Technology and facilities for more efficient production

Facility design has a direct influence on farm efficiency. Space distribution, feeding and water supply systems, ventilation, climate control and slurry management are all part of a system in which every element is interconnected.

A properly designed facility can make daily tasks easier, improve process control and promote suitable conditions for the animals. Furthermore, the integration of automation and monitoring tools makes it possible to access information on parameters that were previously more difficult to monitor.

Measuring water and feed consumption, monitoring environmental conditions and detecting deviations in specific parameters helps identify opportunities for improvement and make data-driven decisions. In this way, technology not only automates tasks but also provides information that supports better resource utilisation and decision-making.

This digitalisation process also opens up new possibilities. Data generated on the farm can be used to compare results, identify inefficiencies and adjust specific processes, paving the way for increasingly precise management tailored to the actual needs of each facility.

Making the most of resources and continuing to progress

Improving efficiency must also extend to the nutrients generated during production. Pig slurry contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter that can be used as agronomic resources. Proper management makes it possible to return these nutrients to the soil and promote a more circular model in which resources generated on the farm become part of the agricultural cycle again.

This process begins even before field application. A well-adjusted feeding strategy helps minimise the amount of nutrients excreted, while appropriate storage conditions and application techniques help preserve their value and use them efficiently, reducing emissions and losses through leaching.

Pig production has been moving in this direction for decades. Genetic improvement, precision nutrition, automation, consumption monitoring, facility design and nutrient recovery are examples of how innovation enables increasingly efficient production.

For this reason, producing more and making progress towards sustainability are not necessarily conflicting objectives. The key is to continue improving the efficiency of every process and make the most of the opportunities offered by science and technology. Every resource used more efficiently helps generate greater value from the production process and contributes to the continued evolution of pig production towards increasingly efficient and sustainable models.