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Maths lesson with the pigs

You won't often find teacher Willem Verwoerd in the classroom when the school bell rings. More often than not, he's on the farm of father and son Henk and Christian van den Broek in Lunteren. There's no need for desks or smart boards here. The sty is his classroom.

July 22, 2026
General

Bacon: millimetreperfect craftsmanship

For many Britons, the day begins with bacon. In cafés, pubs and kitchens throughout the country, rashers sizzle in the pan as part of the famous full English breakfast. What's less well known is that much of that bacon comes from the Netherlands. Almost all the bacon Westfort produces is sold to the UK.

July 22, 2026
General

All
Healthy pigs
The animal's living environment
Meat quality
General

KDV shows that further reduction in antibiotic use is possible

The Dutch pig-farming sector has made great progress over the last fifteen years, with antibiotic use down by 68% since 2009. Even so, the latest report from the Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute (SDa) indicates that this progress has stagnated recently. The KDV figures tell a different story. The 2024 figures show that farms in the KDV value chain consistently score below the national average, proving that further reduction in antibiotic use really is possible.

July 22, 2026
General

The primal instinct to build a nest

The revised brochure on environmental enrichment and nest-building material for pigs sets out the criteria for enrichment material in the sty in more concrete terms. One of the key principles is meeting the pig's need to root and explore. But sows have another equally important behavioural need in which environmental enrichment plays a role: the instinct to build a nest.

July 22, 2026
General

Monitoring for better sty climate management

Ensuring a good climate inside the sty is essential for animal health and performance, as well as for creating a comfortable working environment. Moreover, with the move to long tails on the horizon, it's important to ensure sty conditions are right. And yet, many climate systems still focus primarily on temperature, even though factors like CO2, humidity, ammonia, airborne dust and light have just as much influence on how animals feel and behave.

July 22, 2026
General

‘Keeping pigs with long tails is a question of using your basic farming common sense’  

When a place opened up on the long tails project, Harm was asked to take part. 'I didn't have to think twice. Westfort and De Hoeve have always been a great support. They're there when I need them, and I'm happy to do the same in return. Besides, long tails will be mandatory from 2030, and there's not likely to be a one-size-fits-all approach. So you're better off getting started sooner rather than later.'

July 22, 2026
General

New criteria for environmental enrichment  

Environmental enrichment has been standard practice on many pig farms for years. Considerable effort is already made to improve welfare by enriching pens with chains, ropes, plastic toys, chewable materials and the daily scattering of lucerne. A recent court ruling and a clearer interpretation of the law build on this practice. This raises the bar on meeting pigs' natural needs by providing permanent access to enrichment materials that are both edible and rootable.

July 21, 2025
General

A vision for the future of pig farming

July 21, 2025
General

Turning challenges into opportunities

July 21, 2025
General

A clear message for consumers

July 21, 2025
General