HyCare works!

The HyCare hygiene management method tangibly contributes to the health and wellbeing of animals as well as the reduction of antibiotics usage.

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In September 2019, a celebratory opening of the HyCare* method took place at the André Borkus pig farm in the Netherlands. The event was hosted by meat processing company Van Loon Group and hygiene expert for livestock farmers MS Schippers. Together, they turned this event into an opportunity for an in-depth discussion about the method, the results so far and the future ambitions. This interactive gathering was attended by some 90 invited relations, customers, pig farmers, animal protection services, veterinary, members of the press and internal staff members.

Chairman of the day Mr. Han Swinkels** hosted stage discussions with the programme manager for livestock breeding at the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals Bart van den Berg and veterinarian Godfried Groenland, to arrive at the following:

Veterinarian Godfried Groenland:

“One thing I clearly observe is that companies with the lowest infection rates experience the most rapid growth. In the past years, the usage of antibiotics in pigs dropped by two-thirds. A solid and integrated hygiene management approach, including topics such as internal and external biosecurity and proper nutrition, has significantly contributed to that achievement. Farmers who have adopted the HyCare method have demonstrably gained results in reducing animal infections, which contributes to both animal welfare and financial returns. This is proven by the data we retrieved. We return to individually managing animals, rather than treating them as a group. A proper collaboration throughout the chain is crucial in this respect, as you need both a joint direction and different areas of expertise to come together. It’s the only way that lead to real change.”

Animal Welfare expert Bert van den Berg:

“I have worked for the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals organisation for 18 years, and was part of the team creating the ‘Better Life’ certification awarded to products in supermarkets since 2008. I often read about excellent ideas to further improve the industry, but turning them into practice often proves hard. So we ask ourselves: how can our animal welfare organisation contribute? At too many farms, we observe that their basic hygiene is not up to standards, while proper hygiene makes all the difference. Just look at what it did for mankind. Society is now becoming increasingly aware that the animal husbandry industry can improve in this respect. And HyCare contributes to that. Working in accordance with procedures and protocols prevents cross-contamination and improves health. While the results so far are excellent, there’s still much to do. It would be a great accomplishment if we would start experiments to stop tail docking, and do believe that the HyCare method creates a foundation for it.”

The Chairman of the day also had interesting discussions with the company directors of both MS Schippers and the Van Loon Group.

Roland van Loon:

“We have adopted the Better Life certification system as soon as 2009, but in the past, we focused insufficiently on hygiene within the farms; despite it being a crucial factor for us as a meat processing company. A presentation by the MS Schippers CEO about hygiene management really opened my eyes. I immediately understood its potential for success and the fact that it’s a plain necessity.

Together with MS Schippers and another company, we started a HyCare pilot at four pig farms in the Netherlands. Our objective was to reduce the usa of antibiotics, which is exactly what we achieved. Now the time has come to take a next step. At the end of 2020 I want 40 pig farms in our chain to participate. The farmers who have adopted this method so far are fully convinced, which created a foundation to persuade others. It’s all about awareness and adopting the entire method, rather than cherry-picking separate elements which just doesn’t work.”

Mark Schippers:

“HyCare is a foundational concept for professional livestock farming. It’s also boils down to using common sense: without infections, there’s no disease. The greatest obstacle for farmers I experience, is that HyCare does require a different state of mind. It’s not a product one just orders, it’s a structurally different approach that does promise improved financial returns and increases job satisfaction as animals are visibly healthier and happier. We employ special HyCare coaches to support both farmers and veterinarians with this new work method, which has proven to be a necessity. Another important thing we did, was creating a revolving fund together with the Van Loon Group and the Rabobank, which improves the financial picture for pig farmers who choose to adopt HyCare.”

This week, pig farmer Andre Borkus delivered his first batch of animals that grew up with HyCare. He is happy with his clean pens, the absence of flies, the clean drinking water, the hygiene lock and the showers installed in it. Something he did have to get used to? Using boot swabs and disposable gloves.

*HyCare is a contraction of Hygiene and Care. The HyCare method revolves around animal health and wellbeing, and consists of five key pillars:

Pore-free surfaces
Germ-free living environment
Pest-free stables
Clean drinking water
Optimal care

The joint results of these individual pillars is an improvement of animal health and wellbeing, and a structural reduction of antibiotics use. HyCare can be implemented within existing, regular stables.

**Dr. ir. Han Swinkels has worked in various positions at the Wageningen University & Research business units Livestock Research & Biobased Research for over 13 years. After that, he was the manager animal sectors for a prominent agricultural and horticultural organisation. Since 2010, he is an independent advisor to businesses, governments and knowledge institutions.

The Van Loon Group consists of six ambitious and internationally operating meat processing companies in the Netherlands. Their brands are: Van Loon Vlees, Meat Friends, Brandenburg, ENKCO, Van de Raa and Best Star Meat. As a chain director, the Van Loon Group aspires to create optimal chain collaboration, with the joint objective of creating a production process with maximum efficiency and sustainability.

With its slogan ‘Passion for Farming’, MS Schippers clearly indicates what it represents. The company continuously develops products that enable farmers to do a better, easier and more effective job. With 350 staff members, over 10,000 products and 12 international offices, the company delivers its products and expertise on a global scale. MS Schippers has developed the HyCare hygiene management method.