Pig research

At the Department of Production Animal Medicine, we have been studying the diseases, reproduction, behaviour and welfare of pigs for a long time. The topics have been closely linked to problems associated with pig keeping. Through research, we are obtaining further information on how to improve pig welfare and production.

Our research, which is aimed at improving pig health, welfare and production, is clinical and applied in nature. We investigate drug use and antimicrobial resistance as well as factors impacting them in Finnish piggeries. The following perspectives are discussed in our research on the physiology of farrowing: sow lines that give birth to large farrows, the quality of colostrum, immunity in newborns, and the effect of the above factors on the gut microbiota of piglets before weaning. Our researchers also have projects related to pig growth, tail biting, free farrowing and reproduction.