In this article, we deep dive into how Topigs Norsvin used experience and research knowledge to develop a four-stage protocol to achieve a free-farrowing system at our genetic nucleus farm, Innova, in Canada. This was accomplished thanks to close collaboration within Topigs Norsvin, including Managing Director in Canada Mike Shaw and breeding program geneticist Laura Vargovic, and farm manager Zach Wollmann with his on-site team.
Building on Decades of Experience
Topigs Norsvin’s success in implementing free farrowing at Innova Canada stems from more than two decades of experience breeding sows for loose housing systems. In Norway, loose housing of sows is required by law, and the Norsvin Landrace line has been bred under these conditions for over 20 years, creating a holistic genetic foundation proven essential for sows to thrive in welfare-oriented environments.
Topigs Norsvin’s balanced breeding approach focuses on the animal as a whole, not just production traits, but also mothering ability, functional traits, piglet survival, and behavioral traits. Free farrowing systems amplify the importance of this philosophy. Key traits become more visible for selection, including maternal behavior, piglet survival, and structural soundness for longevity.
New primary breeding location
Topigs Norsvin’s genetic nucleus unit Innova Canada in Manitoba is the primary breeding location for the Z-line, one of the lines used to breed the TN70 sow. The 1,600-sow operation was populated in 2023 and designed from the start for group housing, with sows crated only during mating.
“Opening a new farm is challenging, let alone opening a complex genetic nucleus unit,” explains Vargovic.
“It takes time for people to start operating within a new farm, and for the implementation of genetic protocols. When production and protocols were executed routinely, we were ready to start the path to free farrowing and free lactation.”
Laura Vargovic, breeding program geneticist
Four-Stage Transition
The transition at Innova Canada began in December 2023, seven months after the first farrowings. Over a period of six months, the team progressed through four carefully designed stages, completing full implementation in May 2024. “The process was set to move stages gradually,” Laura Vargovic explains. “During the regular meetings and discussions about the results within the stages, we agreed on the timing to move to the next stage. Throughout all stages, sows and piglets were monitored using camera technology in dedicated pens. The team analyzed data and investigated piglet mortality causes before advancing to each next stage.”
“Free farrowing is perceived differently around the world,” says Vargovic. “It can include opening crates e.g. five days after farrowing, whereas in the case of Innova Canada, free farrowing includes fully free sows from the moment when entering farrowing shed, until the end of lactation.
The Four-Stage Protocol:
“We were positively surprised”, recalls Zach Wollmann, farm manager of Innova Canada. “We expected the possibility of a higher pre-weaning mortality in the free farrowing system, but our early results showed the sows and the piglets were performing quite well. That made our decision to move ahead with completely free farrowing much easier.”
“Stage four in the protocol [above] is where we are today,” Wollmann explains. “Animals enter from gestation to the farrowing pens, and they are not crated. They stay like that until they wean their own piglets and go out from the farrowing unit. Occasionally, if certain conditions are met, we may temporarily crate a sow for a few days to ensure piglet safety.”
Zach Wollmann, farm manager of Innova Canada
The People-First Approach
“The transition primarily included training of people to adapt to the new environment, and ensuring the conditions are safe for animals as well as people,” Vargovic says. ” Everybody on that farm was closely involved.”
Training focused on several key areas. Central was moving pregnant sows slowly and patiently, using calm handling techniques. “We let the sow take her time. If a sow wants to stop and rest, we wait until she decides to move,” Wollmann explains. “It was a very important learning process for us and the crew here to get the feeding and the sow management done very well and done consistently.”
Farm staff learned to read individual sow temperaments and recognize when intervention was needed versus allowing full expression of natural maternal behavior. Daily check-ins during the first month created space for questions and concerns, helping build confidence throughout the transition.
Impact on People and Pigs
“It was a remarkably positive change,” Wollmann says. “The animals appear more relaxed and happier.” Being a nucleus facility, the majority of animals are first-parity, making calm handling especially important.
Vargovic agrees: “In general, sows appear to be very calm, both in gestation as well as in farrowing units.
“Today everything is functioning very well, and it’s paying off big time,” says Wollmann. “We’re fortunate to have long-term consistent good numbers. We’ve come a long way since the start.”
Project team
Transition to free farrowing at Innova Canada
- Mike Shaw, Managing Director, Topigs Norsvin Canada
- Laura Vargovic, Breeding Program Geneticist
- Chris Opschoor, Director of Global Technical Service
- Claude Verrier, Production Manager GN Canada
- Zach Wollmann, Farm Manager, Innova Canada
- On-site staff at Innova Canada
PROJECT TEAM: Collaborators teaming up for a group photo at Innova Canada.
More insight
Follow along for more: Built for the Future – Breeding Sows for Group Housing
The holistic genetic foundation through Topigs Norsvin’s balanced breeding approach has proven essential for sows to thrive in welfare-oriented environments. The TN70 sow has already demonstrated these advantages to customers worldwide, irrespective of the production systems. Importantly, this balanced approach gives flexibility and makes genetics more adaptable to different production systems. Innova Canada’s successful transition validates that breeding programs with a balanced approach are essential for the breed’s ability to adapt to loose housing production systems.
〉Stay tuned for more insights on this topic.
We Breed Sustainable Pork
In times of climate change, where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a top priority, the pig plays a key role in the sustainable provision of premium proteins to a growing world population. Topigs Norsvin takes responsibility for breeding pigs that thrive in future production environments—stronger, healthier, and more efficient.
Free farrowing, people and planet
Animal health, welfare, and behavior are historically important levers in livestock production to achieve sustainable production of animal sourced foods. By supporting the natural behavior of the pigs and autonomy of the sows, we can produce pork where the animals utilize feed more effectively and have less losses. With animals that have good survivability and strong immune systems, they are less dependent on inputs from farmers and veterinarians, further reducing unnecessary losses.
Camera monitoring at Innova Canada enables researchers to identify maternal behavior indicators, such as the sow’s posture changes, piglet location in the pen, and pre-suckling signals, that correlate with piglet survival. This gives a potential to explore genetic selection for better maternal instincts, improving piglet survival rates in free farrowing.
Topigs Norsvin’s balanced breeding approach, with broad breeding goals encompassing both production and welfare traits, makes genetics more adaptive to various production environments. By supporting natural sow behavior, free farrowing systems align welfare improvements with production goals. As several countries mandate free farrowing, Innova Canada demonstrates how Topigs Norsvin genetics can adapt to evolving welfare standards while maintaining productive operations.