ROTECNAWORLD NUMBER SIXTY-EIGHT 2026
TECHNOLOGY COOLED CAST IRON SLATS FOR SOWS IN FARROWING
GLOBALPIG R. ARZUBE: “ROTECNA SOLUTIONS ALLOW YOU TO ADAPT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL WELFARE”
PIGPRODUCTION
68
DENMARK, A CHANGE OF COURSE WITH POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF EUROPE
ROTECNA NEWS ROTECNA ADVANCES INNOVATION ACROSS THE INTERNATIONAL PIG SECTOR
DOWNLOAD ANY APPS FOR READING QR CODE & VIEW ROTECNA.COM
Nº 68
September 2026
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR In this editorial, I address the readers of ‘Rotecna World’ for the first time as general director of Rotecna, a new professional stage that I face with enormous enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility. After more than 25 years as part of this project, I take on this challenge with the desire to continue promoting innovation, strengthen our relationships with clients and partners and continue building the future of Rotecna together with an exceptional team. Thank you to those who have been part of this journey and to those who continue to trust us every day. Rotecna’s goal has always been to provide practical knowledge that helps livestock farmers improve profitability and stay up to date with developments in the pig sector. We therefore thank you for your trust and for allowing us to be part of your farms, a meeting point for the future of livestock farming. The pork sector is at a stage where efficient production is no longer just a competitive advantage, but an essential condition for preserving profitability. The average cost of a fattening pig in Spain is around 1.35 euros per kilo, according to SIP Consultors, about 162 euros for a 120-kilo animal, and feed accounts for about 63% of the total cost. In this context, animal health, efficiency, feed, facility occupancy, and cost control can make a big difference. Knowing the data, spotting inefficiencies, and evaluating each investment are key to protecting margins.
CONTENTS 4. Rotecna News
Rotecna advances innovation across the international pig sector.
6. Technology
Cooled cast iron slats for sows in farrowing.
10. Global Pig
R. Arzube: “Rotecna solutions allow you to adapt to continuous improvements in animal welfare”.
14. Future News
G. Ramis: “I would systematically implement the vaccination of workers against the flu”.
18. Pig Production in... Denmark, a change of course with possible consequences for all of Europe.
Rotecna World Director: Oscar Toledano.
Finally, we will continue to reinforce our commitment to being close to professionals in the sector. We will be present at the 333 Spain and 333 Latam congresses in Mexico, and we will participate with our own stand at EuroTier 2026 in Hanover. These events are strategic meetings to listen to farmers, exchange knowledge, and continue offering solutions that support the development and competitiveness of their farms. Oscar Toledano, CEO, Rotecna.
Editor: Francisco García, Tamara Lombardo. Translation: Sam Smith. Print: Imprenta Barnola.
L-41-2007 Rotecna's World's editors accept no liability for contributor's opinion.
DIGITAL VERSION /issuu.com/rotecnapress 3
ROTECNANEWS ROTECNA ADVANCES INNOVATION ACROSS THE INTERNATIONAL PIG SECTOR
Participation in key industry events in Chile and Mexico has strengthened knowledge exchange with professionals across Latin America.
The Rotecna team alongside its distributor in Colombia at PorkAméricas.
Over the last few months, Rotecna has participated in several professional meetings in Latin America, consolidating its presence in strategic markets and strengthening knowledge exchange with producers, technicians, and other pork-sector professionals. PorkAmericas, ELBA 2026, and the Pig Farm Calculation and Design Seminar have provided platforms to learn about the trends and challenges of pig production and share solutions to improve efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability.
PorkAmericas Rotecna participated alongside its distributor in Colombia at PorkAméricas, one of the main meeting points for producers, technicians, and professionals in Latin American pig production. The fair allowed us to learn firsthand about the evolution of the Colombian pork sector, which is moving towards greater technological 4
advancement, productive efficiency and long-term sustainability across the sector. During the event, the Rotecna team shared experiences with clients, farmers, and sector professionals, addressing farms’ main challenges and presenting solutions to optimise performance, animal welfare, and connectivity. Among the technologies presented, Bodycheck stood out: a system based on artificial vision that determines sows’ body condition and adjusts feeding through individualised electronic systems for group housing. This technology enables more precise feed management, adapted to each animal’s needs. Latin American Meeting on Animal Welfare On August 5 and 6, Rotecna attended the second edition of the Latin American Meeting on
Animal Welfare (ELBA 2026), held in Santiago, Chile. The congress brought together more than 400 professionals and 60 international exhibitors to address different aspects of animal welfare, sustainability, and responsible production. The program included content on policies, regulations and innovation in different livestock areas. On behalf of Rotecna, Óscar Toledano gave a presentation in which he shared the company’s experience and vision for incorporating animal welfare into solutions for more efficient, responsible, and sustainable pig production.
Seminar on Calculation and Design of Pig Farms On August 20 and 21, Rotecna participated in the Seminar on Calculation and Design of Pig Farms, held in Querétaro, Mexico. Organised by Pork School, the meeting brought together international specialists to discuss in depth key aspects of pig farm design and operation. The conference covered infrastructure, ventilation, biosecurity, sustainability, animal welfare, facility sizing, and resource optimisation. Participation in this meeting allowed Rotecna to share knowledge and experience
with other professionals and learn firsthand about the challenges of developing increasingly efficient facilities adapted to the sector’s needs.
Upcoming meetings Finally, Rotecna will be present at the 333 Spain and 333 Latam congresses in Mexico, and will participate with its own stand at EuroTier 2026 in Hannover (Germany). These meetings are strategic events to listen to farmers, exchange knowledge, and continue developing solutions that respond to the sector’s needs and support its ongoing evolution, advancement, and competitiveness.
5
Technology
COOLED CAST IRON SLATS
Cooled cast iron slats incorporate cold-water circuits that continuously remove heat from the sow’s resting surface, regardless of the room temperature. In modern pig production, farrowing is one area where small design details can directly affect productivity, animal welfare, and piglet survival. In this context, the type of soil used in the farrowing wall plays an important role. The soil should match the physiological needs of the sow and her piglets, which do not always align. Both require comfortable, well-drained surfaces, but the newborn piglet needs warm surfaces to minimise heat loss, while the lactating sow needs the coolest possible area. For this reason, using cast iron slats exclusively under the sow, combined with plastic slats around it, has become one of the most popular solutions to provide effective cooling. 6
Do cast iron slats really provide greater thermal comfort to sows? One of the main challenges in farrowing is maintaining the sow’s feed consumption during lactation, especially in warm climates or during the warmer months. Current genetics have a high metabolic demand, and any reduction in intake quickly impacts milk production, loss of body condition, pre-diestrus mortality (the discomfort of the sow causes it to move more and there are more crushes), the weight of piglets at weaning and the mother’s reproductive performance in the subsequent cycle. This is where casting provides an advantage over plastic slats under the sow, since, thanks to their high thermal conductivity, they absorb and dissipate the sow’s body heat much more efficiently than other materials, creating a cooler, more comfortable surface. However, high conductivity does not equal cooling; because the grates’ mass is small
FOR SOWS IN FARROWING compared to that of the sow, the casting heats up because the grates cannot dissipate the heat they receive from the animal, especially if the room temperature is high. Thus, when it is not possible for us to keep farrowing units below 26ºC, nor other advantages that the use of cast iron should provide us, the grilles lose much of their effectiveness.
The evolution towards water-cooled cast iron systems If we want to take advantage of cast iron slats when we need them most, we must go a step further and incorporate water-cooled cast iron slat systems under the sow, especially in warmclimate areas or in farrowing units for highproductivity sows with a high metabolic rate. These systems incorporate cold-water circuits under the casting that continuously extract heat from the sow’s resting surface, regardless of room temperature. The goal is not to cool the room, but to act directly on the most important thermal contact point, the animal’s body. In addition, cold drinking water can also be dispensed for mothers. The benefits observed with this type of solution include: increased feed consumption during lactation, decreased heat stress, reduced loss of body condition, improved sow performance in the next cycle, potential reduction in the risk of crushing associated with greater comfort and less mobility of the sow once lying down,
improved litter uniformity and greater piglet weight at weaning. Furthermore, by focusing exclusively on the sow area, these systems allow warm, protected areas for piglets, avoiding thermal conflicts during farrowing.
The fundamental role of plastic slats Incorporating cooled cast iron under the sow is not intended to replace the advantages of plastic in the neonatal area. In fact, plastic slats remain the most efficient solution for piglets thanks to their insulating capacity, greater thermal comfort, reduced heat loss, and safety for small animals. In addition, during the first few days of life, piglets tend to naturally avoid colder surfaces, such as water-cooled cast iron slats, and seek heated areas or warmer resting areas. This behaviour helps keep them away from the sow during rest periods, reducing the risk of crushing. Therefore, the most efficient maternity configurations combine refrigerated casting under the sow, plastic slats in the piglet area, and a heated nest area protected from air currents.
Zonal air conditioning The advantages of keeping animals in their comfort zone are evident. However, depending on climatic conditions, this is not always possible, since insulation and climate-control 7
systems cannot reach certain levels of effectiveness at an affordable cost. Furthermore, as with gestation, we can have animals with different requirements in the same space. So the current trend in swine air conditioning is not only about conditioning large volumes of air, but also about acting directly on the animal’s thermal balance through localised, more energy-efficient systems. In other words, applying techniques that provide comfort in specific locations is highly effective. Some are already widespread, such as heated plates and nests for piglets in maternity, weaning, and fattening, which create comfort zones without heating the entire room or warehouse and represent significant energy savings. Others, however, are not as well known and used, despite having proven their effectiveness and economic viability, such as individual air intakes per sow in farrowing units, the cooling of drinking water for lactating sows and growing animals during times of heat stress (water loses much of its positive effect on thermal comfort and consumption when it exceeds 8
approximately 22–24°C), or the refrigerated floors we just discussed, which can also be applied in fattening with radiant solid floor systems to improve the thermal comfort of animals in times of high temperatures and increase feed consumption and average daily gain. The evolution of highefficiency farrowing units designed with animal welfare in mind points toward increasingly specialised zonal
air-conditioning systems, where the objective is not to keep the entire room at a single temperature, but to create physiological microclimates adapted to the specific needs of the sow and piglets. In this context, technologies such as cooled flooring, localised ventilation or drinking water cooling represent a new generation of tools aimed at simultaneously improving animal welfare, energy efficiency and productive performance.
Cast iron flooring helps dissipate heat and improve sow comfort.
9
GLOBALPIG R. ARZUBE: “ROTECNA SOLUTIONS ALLOW YOU TO ADAPT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN ANIMAL WELFARE”
With Rotecna solutions present in all phases of production, Grupo Cedeño (Ecuador) is committed to equipment that combines efficiency, animal welfare and ease of handling.
Rómulo Arzube, Production Director at Grupo Cedeño. Photo: R. A.
The Ecuadorian pork sector has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by investment in genetics, facilities, technology, and training. In this interview, we spoke with Rómulo Arzube Delgado, Production Director of Grupo Cedeño, who explains their relationship with Rotecna, the solutions they use on their farms and how innovation, biosecurity and digitalisation will be key to continuing to improve efficiency and competitiveness. When and why did you decide to dedicate yourself to livestock farming? From a young age, I was deeply involved in the agricultural sector, spending my holidays on my father’s and maternal grandfather’s farms, which focused on agriculture and livestock farming. Just before finishing school, I decided to study Veterinary Medicine, largely because of my father’s influence and my mother’s support; they 10
were confident it was a good area in which to develop professionally. I was especially attracted to everything related to animal production and, above all, to the pig sector. How is the company structured? The group I belong to, Grupo Cedeño, consists of three companies. Each has different centres, organised, as the case may be, into production systems in a single location or across several locations. All three companies have commercial farms dedicated to producing fattening pigs, which supply both our customers and our own meat processing and cutting plant. In addition, we are also involved in the production and marketing of pig genetics. How many people work there? Between the farms and the plant, more than 500 people work directly for the company,
plus another 100 who do so indirectly. We have administrative staff and technical teams across different areas of production, as well as workers specialised in genetics, gestation, maternity, breeding, and fattening. We also have logistics, maintenance, construction, fertiliser management and environmental departments. Each person’s main responsibility is to do their best every day to achieve the goals and objectives we set for ourselves. We are very satisfied with the work done and the results we are obtaining. Since the beginning, you have chosen Rotecna to equip your facilities. What factors have led you to maintain this trust over the years, and how has this collaboration evolved? Trust in Rotecna has been built primarily on four pillars: seriousness, quality, accompaniment, and support. Over the years, Rotecna has not only been our equipment supplier, with products that meet our demands and quality standards, but has also become a true strategic partner. They have supported our growth, understood our needs, and provided solutions to the challenges and problems we have faced. This closeness and responsiveness have been fundamental to maintaining and strengthening a relationship over the years. What Rotecna solutions do you currently use on your farms, and in what production areas are they present? We use plastic floors, farrowing nests, PVC dividing fences, dispensers and feeders for gestating and farrowing sows, TR2 and TR4 hoppers, and Maxi and Tecnapan waterers and plates. Rotecna is present in all our production areas: gestation, maternity, breeding and fattening. We also use certain products in other areas, such as those intended for biosecurity and logistics, including loading ramps/loading areas and trucks.
Why did you decide to invest in Rotecna products to equip your facilities? It was a joint decision with the company’s management. When I started working in pig production, I had the opportunity to lead a company that wanted to do things right from the beginning. At the time, we met Asagri, a company introducing new technologies into the sector and trying to transform traditional production systems. That’s when I met Rotecna. When I arrived at Fabianacorp, we considered improving and modernising the facilities and decided to opt for a solution we already knew and that had given us good results. Since then, we have maintained this alliance, with which we are very satisfied. You use Rotecna feeders in all production areas. What benefits have they brought to your farm? For our company, one of the resources we must take the most care of, and that has a significant impact on costs, is animal feed. That’s why we closely monitor consumption data, and feeders
Farrowing area at Grupo Cedeño equipped with Rotecna products. Photo: R. A.
11
GLOBALPIG products meet our farms’ requirements and perform well over time. What aspects of Rotecna’s service would you highlight, such as technical advice, availability, or support during projects? Support is one of the fundamental pillars that have made Rotecna our supplier. Throughout each project we have carried out, we have received close follow-up throughout the project and close, consistent customer service. In addition to offering solutions quickly when needed, their team provides practical advice and technical guidance that helps us improve our designs and optimise facilities.
Rotecna feeders and slats in the Grupo Cedeño weaning area. Photo: R. A.
play an essential role. Factors such as the design and number of mouths per animal, ease of access to food, ease of adjustment, waste control and ease of cleaning and maintenance make Rotecna feeders our first choice. In your experience, what features would you highlight about Rotecna slats, and what advantages have they brought in aspects such as animal welfare, hygiene, or durability? As for the slats, I would highlight the design and the wide range of solutions that Rotecna offers. Rotecna solutions allow us to adapt to continuous improvements in animal welfare, hygiene and biosecurity. Furthermore, its ease of cleaning, disinfection and assembly is essential to ensure good conditions in the facilities. Regarding durability, we are convinced these 12
What are your main health concerns? In Ecuador, a plan to eradicate classical swine fever (CSF) is still being implemented. Beyond this issue, one of our main concerns is continuing to improve farm biosecurity to reduce the risk of pathogens such as PRRS and others that can cause health problems. Ecuador has experienced significant evolution in the pork sector in recent years. From your point of view, what challenges and opportunities do producers currently face? The Ecuadorian pork sector has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by investment in genetics, facilities, new technologies and training. Currently, several companies in the country achieve production levels comparable to those of the main international leaders. However, we continue to face significant challenges, especially in production costs, which are heavily influenced by raw material prices, and in the need to move toward eradicating CSF. At the same time, these challenges also create opportunities to improve biosecurity, boost pork consumption, and advance farm digitalisation through management tools and artificial intelligence.
13
FUTURENEWS G. RAMIS: “I WOULD SYSTEMATICALLY IMPLEMENT THE VACCINATION OF WORKERS AGAINST THE FLU”
Airborne transmission and contact with people favour the entry and circulation of the flu virus, which explains its high prevalence and frequent detection on pig farms.
Guillermo Ramis, veterinarian and professor at the University of Murcia. Photo: G. Ramis.
Swine influenza is a viral disease of great relevance to the sector, both due to its high presence on farms and its zoonotic potential. In this interview, Guillermo Ramis, veterinarian and professor at the University of Murcia, analyses its transmission routes, symptoms, diagnosis and productive impact. It also addresses the main challenges to its control, including the need to strengthen biosecurity and the importance of incorporating vaccination, both animal and human, into farm preventive programs. What is swine flu? It is one of the main viral diseases affecting pigs, but it remains largely underdiagnosed. We have reached a point where diagnosing it does not worry us, or we do not pay it the attention it deserves, despite the danger it poses. We must keep in mind that swine flu is one of the main zoonoses our animals suffer from; however, it 14
is not one of the most serious health problems on farms, such as PRRS, so it does not worry us excessively. What does it mean to have zoonotic potential? When we talk about zoonoses, we usually do so from the perspective of zooanthroponosis, the infection that animals transmit to humans. Still, we must also consider anthropozoonosis (the reverse transmission of the disease, from animals to humans). By this I mean that a flu transmitted from pigs to people can be just as serious as the flu transmitted from people to pigs. In this last example, a good biosecurity measure we all struggle to understand is that workers around animals should be vaccinated against the flu, or that when a person has a clinical illness that may be compatible with the flu, they should not go to the farm. These measures are not being implemented, and that
is worrying. We have already had several episodes of disease in humans transmitted by pigs. For example, in 2009 we had an H1N1 that was transmitted from pigs to humans. Although we haven’t had a serious zoonosis problem so far, that doesn’t mean a strain won’t appear; when transmitted from animals to humans, it can cause critical illness or a worrying spread between humans. That is the danger that exists. What is the current presence of swine influenza on Spanish farms? When we look for it, it is usually present quite frequently and is part of the respiratory complex. For this reason, it is a disease to consider on our farms when establishing prevention protocols or the vaccination programme. How does the virus enter a farm and how is it transmitted? It is a very ubiquitous virus for a very simple reason: it is airborne, and as we have already mentioned, it enters easily through people. We breathe it in, and it arrives through the air. We have flu outbreaks every year. This virus moves through animals, aerially, and among people, so the flu virus enters farms relatively easily. This is why we
have such a high prevalence, and why, when the flu is tested, it is found in a very high percentage of our pig farms. What are the symptoms and the signs that should alert the farmer? The primary symptoms that we can detect in young animals in transition and in the barn are: first, sneezing, which indicates that the virus is replicating in a nasal phase; from there, we move on to respiratory and systemic symptoms, that is, the animal coughs, has a high fever, prostration, anorexia, etc. The problem is that we include the flu in the respiratory context, and often it does not cause those symptoms on its own; instead,
it synergises with another virus or with bacteria such as PRRS or Mycoplasma. In breeding sows, for example, the flu can cause abortions. Still, it is not the same abortion that is produced by, for example, a PRRS virus, but rather an abortion linked to symptoms due to a high febrile state, or even causing vomiting, which is something that catches our attention, because it could be confused with Aujeszky’s disease. So how is the diagnosis confirmed? Diagnosis is straightforward: we take a sample and send it to the laboratory; using PCR or sequencing, we can diagnose influenza. Two proteins tell us what type of virus is present.
Respiratory effects are more severe in younger animals. Photo: Rotecna.
15
FUTURENEWS breeding animals to fattening pigs, including lactation and transition. ¿What is the worst phase for me? Normally, it starts during transition, when maternal immunity is being lost, and it can spread along with PRRS virus or mycoplasma.
Influenza can affect pigs at any production stage.Photo: Rotecna.
The problem with the flu virus is that it is an RNA virus that mutates a lot, and once it is clinically active, it the clinical course lasts about a week. As we have said, almost sarcastically, all our clinical lives, the flu lasts 7 days with medication and 7 days without. Whatever you do, this virus will take a week in your animals, of course, if there are no complications. So we need to prevent it. Are the available vaccines effective as a preventative measure? The flu vaccine should be included in our vaccination programs, but this isn’t always the case because vaccines often aren’t as effective as possible, given that this is a highly mutable virus. Furthermore, we don’t rely heavily on vaccines, which stems from how little we rely on them. Does it affect all phases of production the same way, or are some animals more vulnerable? When it affects the respiratory system, the younger the animal, the worse it is. However, the flu can affect any phase if animals lack immunity to this virus, so technically we can find it from 16
What impact can it have on the production and economic performance of a farm? There will almost always be some loss of productivity. It is true that when the disease is isolated, something that rarely happens, it is a disease that progresses very quickly. Within a week, it disappears, produces an explosive clinical presentation, causes high mortality, and the animals have anorexia, but within a week it selflimits. Another issue is when it becomes entangled with the respiratory complex and affects the immune system. It is harder to quantify because the immune system stops attending to other pathogens that will be much more serious and, together, will mean a productive loss translated into less growth and an increase in the feed conversion rate. You mentioned that prevention is important to fight swine influenza. What management and biosecurity measures are most effective in preventing the disease? Obviously, we need to strengthen all external biosecurity significantly. As my good friend Josep Casanovas says, “Of all the measures, which is the most important? The one we don’t have”. We must maintain the measures we already have. That said, for me, the most important measure, which we still do not contemplate, is that farm workers are all vaccinated against the flu. People always tell me that I can’t force my workers to get vaccinated; well, they’ve forced us to get vaccinated against other things and nothing has happened. Therefore, I would systematically implement flu vaccination for workers, because it
is one of the best ways to prevent the effects of swine flu on our animals. On farms, in addition to good biosecurity, we should vaccinate animals and include flu in our vaccination protocol, always supported by a diagnosis.
“This pathogen is undervalued in a very obvious way, and we don’t believe it’s a big problem. “
What is currently the main challenge in reducing the circulation of the virus on farms? The main challenge is to systematically include it in our vaccination protocols to stop transmission and reduce both the health and productive impact of the virus, as long as, I insist, we have a diagnosis, either by PCR or by flu sequencing. This will be critical for me, more than anything we’ve already mentioned. With good biosecurity, good prevention of other pathogens that may synergise with the flu, promoting vaccination, and ensuring that workers with obvious signs of respiratory illness compatible with the flu do not go to farms and do not transmit this virus to our animals.... All of this would provide a framework for preventing this pathogen, even if we do not have 100% effective prevention. In this regard, is there awareness in the sector to follow these lines of vaccination, prevention and biosecurity? This pathogen is undervalued in a very obvious way, and we don’t believe it’s a big problem. Therefore, I don’t see awareness in the sector, and we’ll have to keep working on it and keep promoting the fact that the producer firmly believes he needs a swine flu prevention program on his farms. 17
PIGPRODUCTIONIN DENMARK, A CHANGE OF COURSE WITH POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL OF EUROPE
New requirements in animal welfare and environmental protection represent a shift in the Danish pig farming model that could have repercussions on the European market.
36.9 billion Danish kroner, making pork, between processed meat and live animals, the main export category for the Danish agri-food sector. Animal welfare has become one of the key issues in Denmark.
Denmark has built one of the world’s most intensive and competitive pig production models over decades. With production far exceeding the consumption needs of its population, the country has built much of its agri-food leadership on exporting pork and live animals. However, the political debate after the last elections has created an unprecedented scenario in which animal welfare, environmental protection, and the sustainability of the production model take centre stage.
The scale of a strategic sector With a population of nearly six million, Denmark maintains pig production that far exceeds its domestic needs and is strongly export-oriented. According to data from Landbrug & Fødevarer, in 2025 the country produced 31.8 million pigs and pig farming generated 33,300 jobs. That same year, the sector exported products worth 18
One characteristic that differentiates the Danish model is the large scale of piglet production destined for other European countries. According to Statistics Denmark, in 2025, Denmark exported 16.7 million live pigs, almost all of them piglets. This specialisation also has an important economic dimension, as piglet producers achieved the best results among the different types of pig farms in 2025 for the third consecutive year. These figures reflect the weight piglet production has gained within the Danish pig sector and its importance in the country’s livestock activity.
Animal welfare enters the political agenda The last general elections marked a turning point. During the election campaign, animal welfare ceased to be an issue limited to specialised organisations and became one of the topics with the greatest media impact. Various journalistic investigations and campaigns by
animal protection organisations significantly increased public sensitivity to pig production conditions. One of the most striking aspects of the process was the message’s simplicity. Instead of focusing the debate on economic or commercial issues, much of the campaign revolved directly around the welfare of the animals themselves. According to its promoters, this strategy made it possible to turn a complex issue into a message that citizens could easily understand that citizens could easily understand.
The new Government’s priorities Following the elections, the new coalition government has defined a series of guidelines that point towards an evolution of the Danish pig farming model. Although the political agreement does not yet specify an implementation schedule or develop all the necessary measures to carry it out, it proposes a production model that is progressively more linked to the national food system, in contrast to the sector’s traditional export orientation. To define this new scenario, the Executive also proposes opening a dialogue process between representatives of the agricultural sector, environmental and animal welfare organisations, labour representatives and food system operators. On animal welfare, the main lines of action include progressively reducing routine tailcutting, limiting genetic selection aimed at excessively large litters, and increasing the space available for animals, while strengthening controls and compliance with regulations. The environmental sphere also takes on greater prominence, with increased municipal powers to authorise new farms or expansions and a review of nitrate limits in drinking water, with
the maximum expected concentration falling from 50 to 6 mg/L. This new approach also has an institutional implication, since a Ministry of Nature and Animal Welfare will replace the current Ministry of Agriculture.
What impact could it have on the European market? Although it is still too early to quantify the economic consequences of the proposed measures, Denmark’s shift in direction could affect the entire European pig market. If new welfare and environmental protection requirements raise production costs or limit farms’ growth capacity, Danish supply could be affected in the medium term. Given the country’s weight in piglet production and, especially, exports, any relevant changes could disrupt existing trade flows within the European Union. The process could also influence the evolution of EU regulations. Higher standards in Denmark could strengthen the debate on animal welfare and sustainability in other member states, especially as the European Union advances its review of its regulatory framework. However, this scenario should be interpreted with caution, as many announced proposals still need to be finalised and developed into regulations. In this sense, the Danish case can become a benchmark for other producing countries facing increasing pressure to adapt their production systems to new social demands. For the European sector, the debate thus raises a fundamental question: how to move towards more demanding models in welfare and the environment without compromising the economic viability of farms or the capacity of Europe to maintain competitive pig production. Denmark’s evolution will therefore be especially relevant to observing how this balance is resolved. 19
OWN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE 30 YEARS DEVELOPING HIGH RESISTANCE PLASTIC (POLYPROPYLENE) FEEDERS
FEEDERS GROW FEEDER MAXI
Fattening, WTF
TR4 FEEDER
Weaning
GROW FEEDER MINI
Weaning
TR5 FEEDER
Weaning
SOW FEEDER
Farrowing
TR2 FEEDER
Fattening
SWING R3 DUO SWING R3 WET
Weaning, Fattening, WTF Weaning, Fattening, WTF
TR3D FEEDER
Fattening
SF3D FEEDER
Fattening, WTF
SWING R3 TUBE
Weaning, Fattening, WTF
TR7D FEEDER
Weaning
SOW BOWL FEEDING BALL
Farrowing, Fattening, Gestation Farrowing, Gestation
ANTI-STRESS FEEDER ANTI-STRESS CHAIN
PANS MAXI PAN
Adaptation pan - Weaning
MAXI HOPPER PAN
Adaptation pan - Weaning
MAXITAINER para MAXI PAN
Tank for liquids
TECNA PAN Plato 1ª edad
Adaptation pan - Farrowing
EASY PAN Plato 1ª edad
Adaptation pan - Farrowing
WALL PAN
Adaptation pan - Farrowing
MINI PAN
Adaptation pan - Farrowing
MINI HOPPER PAN
Adaptation pan - Farrowing
MINITAINER
Tank for liquids
Rotecna, s.a. Polígono Industrial, s/n, nave-3 · 25310 Agramunt (Lleida) SPAIN · Tel: +34 973391267 · Fax: +34 973391232
COVERS AND NI-2 NI-2 CORNER
Farrowing
NI-2 MOBILE
Farrowing
NI-2 WEANING 5W LED LAMP
ELECTRONIC FEEDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS DOSITRONIC M
DOSITRONIC G EVOFEED
Farrowing
Gestation Transition
SENSORITRONIC
SILOTRONIC
DRINKING BOWLS & VRH-3 VALVE
DISPENSERS
VRH
Gestation and farrowing
CLUTCH DISPENSER
VRH-3D
Gestation and farrowing
DOSIMATIC
SWING DRINKER
Weaning and fattening
SIMPLEX D-2
EASY DRIKER MINI
Farrowing (piglets)
FOUR
Weaning
FIVE
EASY DRIKER MIDI
STAINLESS STEEL DRINKERS Sows, weaning and fattening
SIX-D SIX-S SEVEN
Gestation and farrowing
THE MOST EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS FOR PIG EQUIPMENT
DOWNPIPES 60 2 x 60Ø / 75Ø mm 60Ø / 63 - 70Ø mm
CHAIN AND DISK SYSTEM • • • •
Shock absorbing teeth system. Easy adjustable chain tensioning system with graduation scale. Corners with easy aperture system. Silo extraction system with an agitator.
CORNER 50Ø / 60Ø ULTRA-RESISTANT CHAIN 38Ø / 44Ø mm
GEAR MOTORS
AUGER SYSTEM
The silo outlet system consist of a silo boot, a transfer unit and a slide gate assembly that allows horizontal and inclined installation.
EXTRACTION SINGLE / DOUBLE
TRANSFER UNIT
SPIRALS 55Ø / 75Ø / 90Ø mm
www.rotecna.com
DOWNPIPES 50 - 60 - 90 63Ø mm
SLATS
measurements in cm
WEANER 10
10X40
WEANER
10x50
20X40
BLIND
60X40
60X50
60X60 60X80
60X40
60X50
60X60
10% OPEN
SOW
60X60
60X20 60X30 60X40
60X60
20X60 60X80
TRAP SLAT
60X40*
WEAN TO FINISH
20X60
60X40
60X50
ELECTRIC PLATE
60X40 120X40
120X50
120X60
WATER PLATE
60X40 120X40
120X50
120X60
CAST IRON
60X40
60X60
FERROCAST LEVEL BED
60X60 120X60
FERROCAST RAISED
100X60
120X60
PANELS BLIND PANEL 1200X1000 VENTILATED PANEL 1200X1000 PANELS MADE TO SIZE PROFILES FOR PANELS DOORS POLIAMID UNION BRAKETS FOR PANELS
FLOOR PVC PROFILES (50,25,10 cm)
DELTA BEAM PROFILE T PROFILE
CLOSE PVC PEN DIVIDERS
DELTA NET SYSTEM
Raisable flooring system
DOORS
ERGOFIX
Bracket for plastic and concrete grills
FAST LOCK BRACKETS
BASIC POST BEAM
Stand for pig grill support beams
CLICK-IN
Insert to blind concrete grills
PVC
OPEN PVC PEN DIVIDERS
U BRACKETS FAST LOCK PLASTIC BRACKETS SOLID GRIP
135 / 120 Perfil 120 / 90
THE MOST EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PRODUCTS FOR PIG EQUIPMENT
COMPONENTS OF THE TECNAPUR SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC FLOW METER
SOLIDS SEPARATOR TP-01
AGITATOR
PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL REACTOR
SUBMERGIBLE VORTEX PUMP
TECNAPUR is a product by Rotecna, S.A. Pol. Ind. N-3 · 25310 Agramunt (Lleida) Spain • Tel. (+34) 973 39 12 67 • www.rotecna.com • rotecna@rotecna.com
Scan the QR code with the mobile camera.
CONTROL PANELS