Otway Pork and Melbourne University partner to improve piglet welfare
Otway Pork’s Winchelsea farm recently hosted members of The University of Melbourne’s Animal Welfare Science Centre to conduct a study on piglets.
The University of Melbourne’s Animal Welfare Science Centre research fellow Dr Megan Lucas and student Amelia Sofra explored the ideal temperature for piglets in a free-range environment during winter, in a bid to reduce mortality. The study aimed to improve farrowing hut temperature in a cost-effective way by installing door flaps on the huts.
The study was conducted over winter 2025 and since finishing the study, the successful collaboration between Otway Pork and The University of Melbourne has led to further research in a project funded by Australian Pork Limited (APL).
This APL project, which will be conducted at Otway Pork’s Barwonleigh farm, is examining piglet mortality in more detail, across different seasons, looking at practical ways to make piglets more comfortable and improve their survival.
Dr Lucas said there were clear findings from the research.
“Together with my student, Amelia Sofra, we looked at how cold winter temperatures inside farrowing huts influence piglet behaviour and survival,” Dr Lucas said.
“Amelia’s project found a clear link between hut temperature and survival, where piglet survival improved when the hut was warmer.
“We tested whether putting door flaps on farrowing huts would make the hut warmer and more comfortable for newborn piglets, and ultimately lead to less piglet mortality. The door flaps had exactly this expected effect.”
Results from the experiment found that door flap huts were warmer, with a 2.5°C increase in daily minimum hut temperature where piglets were less likely to shiver across all days, leading to a lower rate of mortality from 0–12 days of age.
“Piglet survival is so important to animal welfare and is a massive priority for any piggery,” Dr Lucas said.
“The findings from this research were great because putting door flaps on huts is relatively easy, cost-effective and has tangible benefits.”
Dr Lucas praised the team at Otway Pork for their cooperation with the project.
“All of the staff at Otway Pork were open to showing us how they work, which was great because research can be difficult for farmers as it can throw their routine out, but they were all so positive,” she said.
“Staff were also really open to changing things to improve their pigs’ welfare, it was a great collaboration.”
Ms Sofra said her time on-farm was valuable.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience conducting research at the farm,” Ms Sofra said.
“This was my first experience on any piggery, let alone a free-range farrowing and lactation system, and I found the hands-on experience gave me an entirely new understanding of both these systems, and pig behaviour and welfare in general.
“I also found being on-farm gave me a more holistic insight into pig farming, and I really enjoyed meeting and learning from everyone who works with the pigs.”
The strong partnership between Otway Pork and the University continues, with more than 20 students visiting Otway’s Barwonleigh farm in early September. The visit provided students with the chance to experience life on the farm firsthand before the new trial on door flaps in farrowing huts begins at Barwonleigh in the coming months.
