News article, 28. February 2022

New Danish research into piglet incubators

A piglet incubator keeps the litter with the sow, reducing the need for nursing sows. SEGES Innovation tests methods to ensure milk supply in the incubator.

Photo: Danish Agriculture & Food Council

Scientists at the knowledge centre, SEGES Innovation, and Aarhus University are conducting research into a new Danish incubator for newborn pigs. The project aims to increase the survival rate and optimise animal welfare in pig production. The incubator can also make work in the farrowing pen easier and facilitate monitoring.

The aim of the project

Innovation has been the key to research into the optimal design of incubators for piglets. The prototype involves an artificial pig teat placed in the incubator for the newborn piglets. The pigs are put into the incubator on a shift basis to ensure that there is space for all the remaining pigs at the sow’s udder. The incubator can accommodate six piglets.

"It is, of course, an effort to transfer the piglets between the sow and the incubator, but we believe that this is a good solution for both the pigs and the producer. Stockpersons will be able to take a strategic and targeted approach as to which pigs are put where in the first days and therefore improve conditions for the entire litter,” explains Chief Scientist at SEGES Innovation, Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen.

Working with nursing sows, which is how countless pigs are handled today, is challenging and time-consuming. Incubators offering a supplementary diet as a solution model in the farrowing pen are therefore being studied.

Milk in 3D printed pig teats

A close study of the pig’s udder and a 3D printer have enabled almost identical copies of the pig’s teats in the incubator. A milk pump and heat have also been installed in the artificial udder so that the incubator resembles conditions with the lactating sow.

"I admit they don’t smell or grunt. But then the mother is placed just behind the artificial udder and we can see that the pigs react and become more active around the artificial teats when the sow grunts,” says Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen.

Good results from the pilot phase

Timing and the final details of the incubators are still uncertain. But the research has so far borne fruit and delivered positive results for the welfare of piglets in incubators.

The video shows the progress of the project: Danish Research into piglet incubators