Rotecna participates in the Almenar Pig Technical Conference

The Almenar Pork Farmers' SAT held its first technical conference this week, which was sponsored by Rotecna, and addressed the most current issues regarding the environment, animal welfare and biosafety. In this way, we continue to support initiatives that value the professionalism of our sector and that provide the necessary keys so that our farmers can raise their animals in the most sustainable way possible.

The first part of the day has been focused on BAT (Best Available Techniques). Rosa Gallart, agricultural engineer at GSP Lleida, has highlighted the need for these to be, above all, economically viable, and how important it is to know, analyze and evaluate each BAT to apply in each particular case in order to meet the objectives of emissions established by European regulations. In relation to this, different BAT have been reviewed, both for newly built and existing farms: clay, plastic balls, hexagons, solid covers or flexible rafts. It has also been insisted that, while existing farms are required to reduce ammonia emissions from their ponds and outdoor tanks by 40%, newly built farms are required to reduce ammonia emissions by 80%.In the first case, the natural scab technique, which has no associated cost, would work. On the other hand, for new tanks or ponds, the installation of a cover should be considered.

Óscar Toledano, commercial director of Rotecna, has been part of the round table in which different professionals have shared their experience regarding MTD. In his speech, Toledano insisted on the need to insist that Europe ensure that environmental legislation on pig farming adapts to the reality of Spanish farms, and reiterated that to achieve the most efficient BAT, it is necessary to consult and study each case. with professionals who are experts in the field.

Biosafety and animal welfare have focused the second part, with a talk by Carlos Sánchez, head of the Animal Disease Surveillance, Fight and Control Section of the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Generalitat of Catalonia. In his speech, Sánchez reviewed the current situation of ASF (African Swine Fever) in Europe, which in 2023 significantly increased the number of outbreaks and reached five more countries (Greece, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden). As he pointed out, the growth of outbreaks is something worrying that must keep the sector on alert and take all biosafety measures to the maximum to prevent the arrival of the disease, which would have a devastating effect.

Finally, Sánchez has delved into the new animal welfare legislation regarding the maximum densities of animals in weaning and fattening farms and the conditions regarding food, water, feeders and environmental conditions. As explained, although existing farms must adapt to the standard before March 8, 2025, there are complex and unclear points that make this transition difficult. For this reason, it is vitally important that fattening farmers contact their trusted technicians to study their private home and request the relevant permits if necessary.

The event culminated with a round table on the topics mentioned in animal welfare that again included the participation of Rotecna, and in which Óscar Toledano pointed out the need to have facilities and equipment that provide maximum comfort and well-being to the animals. animals in order to maximize production and raise animals with the maximum guarantees in animal welfare and in a sustainable manner, something that more and more consumers demand.