Sano Pig R&D Centre

The Sano Agricultural Institute for Pigs is located in Szakszend, Hungary. This is an integrated, professional piglet producer and pig fattening company that is currently being renovated and expanded. The farm is completely modernised and new stables for 1.200 breeding sows,  including piglet rearing and 2.000 fattening pens are built. 

The construction measures will be carried out in two phases: by the end of 2021, the farrowing pens, breeding centre, gilt and dry sow area, the weaner and finishing hall for the animals will be built in the first construction phase. The second construction phase will begin in spring 2021 - with the aim of completing the Sano Agrar Pig Institute by autumn 2022. 

Future Pig Production 

The complex consists of eight building parts. Piglet production in the southern area of the premises is further divided into the individual buildings: dry period stall, breeding stall and farrowing stall. Separated by a central access corridor, the piglet rearing barn and a pig fattening barn are attached to the northern area of the premises. 

Quality piglets are produced in a one-week cycle, the suckling period lasts twenty-eight days. The resulting 21 groups will consist of 60 sows each. These are:

• 5 groups in the farrowing pen
• 5 groups in the breeding centre 
• 11 groups in the gestation period pens

The gestation period stall will also house the areas of a rotation group that are required for a smooth process. For hygiene reasons, the farrowing stall and breeding centre are operated according to the ALL IN – ALL OUT methodology. For health-optimised quality piglet production, a transitional area is provided that allows piglet production to be separated from piglet rearing and pig fattening areas. 

Feeding trials with the latest stable technology 

The raw material storage and feeding technology for supplying the individual stables and groups of animals, will be located in the modern feed hall. The feeding system works with air pressure and allows the different rations to be dosed precisely and dust-free into the troughs. A complete emptying of all mixing tanks is guaranteed and thus the highest dosing accuracy is achieved. The individual dry food portions reach the feeding station via the shortest possible route, without any loss of time or long control times. The high precision of the pneumatic system in dosing and supplementary feeding makes it possible to carry out precision feeding tests on pigs in the different phases and opens up another area of animal breeding research. 

Nutrient efficiency – not just a focus for Sano in trials

In addition to the scientific component, the use of multi-phase feeding technology stands for the highest nutrient efficiency, since a needs-based and animal-specific nutrient supply is achieved within the different life and performance phases. Expensive under- and oversupply situations are thus avoided - for high sustainability with optimal resource protection in daily operation. The combination of the latest feeding technology and 100 percent digitisation of the farm, for example in the climate control through the intelligent networking of all environmental and animal sensors, stands for the future of modern animal production, "Smart Pig Farming". This is a new and sustainable development in animal husbandry and will continue to have an impact on animal production and the environment in the future.

Access Visitors

Sano wants to offer the opportunity to farmers, traders, veterinarians, consumers, schools and the public in general, to learn about modern and sustainable pig farming at a very high level. In order to make our contribution to this, a visitor walkway will be installed across all buildings on the first floor, which will be accessible via the Academy and Visitor Centre and will give visitors an insight into modern animal husbandry, its technological processes and pork production.