Improving animal welfare and economic sustainability through nutrition
Modern pig production faces a dual challenge: meeting growing societal expectations for animal welfare while maintaining technical and economic competitiveness. While animal nervousness is known to impact profitability, its most costly effects are not always the most visible.
In the grower-finisher phase, behavioural issues like tail biting or aggression are only the visible part of the problem – the tip of the iceberg. Beyond these visible signs, stress and constant nervousness cause a physical reaction that wastes energy. When a pig is stressed, cortisol and adrenaline levels rise, increasing heart rate and non-productive physical activity at the expense of metabolic efficiency.
Robus Zen is a specialised blend of aromatic compounds and plant extracts formulated to reduce aggressive behaviour in pigs. It helps calm the animals, allowing more energy to be channelled into muscle deposition rather than stress responses.
European trial results: benefits on behaviour and performance
Experimental and field trials conducted across Europe have demonstrated that a calmer animal is a more profitable one. On average, finisher pigs receiving Robus Zen showed a significant boost in zootechnical indicators:
- Growth and efficiency: Average daily gain (ADG) improved by an average of +6.1%, while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was optimised by -5.6%.
- Behavioral impact: Video analysis reveals a sharp decrease in physical activity (average distance traveled) and a -42% reduction in aggressive behaviours such as biting and bullying.
- Economic sustainability: Beyond animal health, the product secures the farmer’s margin. European data shows an average gain in final live weight of +2.8%. This translates to an additional margin over feed cost ranging from €4.2 to €12.4 per pig.
Robus Zen stands out for its rapid and consistent efficacy in reducing signs of nervousness. Specifically formulated for pigs, it has been validated across multiple contexts (straw, slatted floors, docked tails, and intact tails). By combining improved performance with a reduction in carcass condemnations at the slaughterhouse, it offers farmers and integrators a rapid return on investment and a higher margin over feed cost.
Securing the farrowing process: the sow perspective
The benefits of stress management extend to the maternity unit, where farrowing represents the most intense stress period in a sow’s life. High cortisol levels during farrowing can inhibit oxytocin release, leading to longer farrowing times and increased risks.
Trials involving 176 sows demonstrated that Robus Zen reduces the salivary cortisol peak during birth. This smoother process resulted in a 34.3% reduction in stillbirth rates (p<0,05). Furthermore, calmer sows show improved maternal behavior and lactation, leading to an average increase of +2 kg in total litter weight at weaning. With an ROI of 1:5 in the sow, managing nervousness becomes a key lever for farm sustainability.
Limiting the negative effects of nervousness, improving performance
Robus Zen is positioned as a nutritional strategy that ensures that pigs can express their full genetic potential. By aligning animal well-being with economic profitability, Techna provides a sustainable path forward for the global pig industry.
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