ABSTRACT: MamaGuide

“MamaGuide” is an innovative pen-floor device to reduce piglet mortality in loose housing systems by preventing sows from rolling over their piglets.

Type and Average of Pigs on the Farm

The farm maintains approximately 185 sows, 6,000 weaners, and 5,500 grower-finishers annually.

Farming System

The production system is intensive, with no use of extensive, organic, or free-range methods.

Description and Evaluation of the Good Practice

MamaGuide is a floor-mounted guide that restricts the sow’s rolling movements while allowing piglets safe access to the udder. It addresses the challenge of increased piglet crushing in zero-confinement systems. The device showed positive results in reducing piglet mortality without adverse effects. It is currently being piloted in the Netherlands, with plans for EU-wide commercialization.

Farm Context

• Sows: The farm uses retrofitted buildings with 200 pens for zero-confinement farrowing. Each pen provides a total area of 7.5 m².. Pens are equipped with piglet protection devices such as rails, farrowing rings, and the MamaGuide. Straw is provided for nest building 3–5 days before farrowing, replenished twice daily. Sows are introduced to the farrowing unit 3–5 days before expected farrowing. Social interaction is allowed through snout contact with neighboring sows. The genetic line used is Danish Genetics.

• Piglets: Piglets have access to a creep area of 0.8 m² per pen, equipped with floor heating and heat lamps. Protection devices include rails, farrowing rings, and the MamaGuide. Feeding is done through a shared family feed system, with no separate troughs for piglets.

• Caretakers: Staff follow low-stress handling routines, such as alerting the sow before entering. Piglets are processed in front of the sow, and sows are not confined during handling. Castration is performed with local anesthesia and pain relief. Hygiene is maintained by cleaning pens while sows are feeding. No additional stress-reducing tools (e.g., injection cord extensions) are used.

Economic Analysis

The MamaGuide costs approximately €150 per pen. With 10 farrowings per pen annually over 15 years, the breakeven point is achieved with a 0.3% reduction in piglet mortality or a €0.10 increase in piglet price.

Environmental Analysis

The implementation of MamaGuide has no negative impact on emissions or environmental performance.

Replicable Benefits and Relevance for Other EU Countries

MamaGuide is adaptable to most pen designs and farm sizes. It offers a practical alternative to confinement, especially relevant if EU regulations prohibit even temporary confinement. Its ease of installation and immediate benefits make it a scalable solution across the EU.