IFIP-institut du porc

Behaviour & Welfare

Animal Health

Body Composition

Environment Impact

Feed & Feed Tehnologies

Housing & System Trials

Performance Trials

The IFIP Experimental Station in Romillé, nestled near Rennes, is a unique multidimensional facility. An incubator of innovation, a laboratory for research and experimentation, and a pivotal entity in the evolution of the pig industry, the station is driving the transformation of tomorrow's farming practices. Comprising a state-of-the-art pig farm, a Technological Testing and Measurement Laboratory, and a Microbiology Laboratory, the facility represents the confluence of advanced research and practical applications in pig farming and meat product transformation. The Romillé Experimental Farm, stretching across 50 hectares, is a cutting-edge farming facility committed to improving the technical and economic performance of pig farming while promoting its adaptation to emerging challenges. Able to house approximately 1,000 pigs of various age groups, the farm employs the latest in Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technology, like automated feeders, drinkers, and connected weighing scales, and camera systems for monitoring animal behavior. The aim is to provide an environment conducive to the pigs' natural behavior while enabling precise monitoring and control of each animal's health, growth, and welfare. Over two decades, the farm has transformed in response to the sector's evolving research and development needs. A new building equipped with centralized ventilation and an air scrubber has been erected, bolstering the station's experimental potential. An air exchanger warms incoming air with calories from extracted air post-weaning, while V-scraping beneath a fattening room facilitates effluent evacuation. The farm, while focusing on innovation, is equally committed to sanitary issues. Recognizing the importance of biosecurity, especially as the site welcomes visitors, a lock equipped with showers and a fumigation room for disinfecting equipment have been incorporated. The farm has also redesigned its maternity wards into "freedom" boxes measuring 6.5 m², each box outfitted with a weighing cage, a piglet nest, and a demand feeding device. To enhance sustainability, the station has expanded its capacity by adding 896 new breeding places, becoming an integral breeding unit. Digitization has been embraced to meet the challenges of traceability and performance monitoring, animal welfare, and reduction of inputs, among other aspects. The farm is now a model of adaptation and sustainability, embodying a future of farming that is more efficient, respectful, and sustainable. Within the same establishment, the Technological Testing and Measurement Laboratory is pushing the envelope of innovation. The lab can manufacture a diverse array of meat products to cater to specific research objectives. It houses a CT scanner, enabling detailed scanning of pig carcasses or live animals to inform best practices for farming techniques and meat quality. Working in tandem with the Technological Laboratory, the Microbiology Laboratory ensures the safety of meat-based products through comprehensive microbiological analysis. It conducts bespoke studies to address company-specific challenges, like product formulation, preservation, microbial contamination characterization, and product development. In summary, the IFIP Experimental Station at Romillé stands as a comprehensive research and innovation hub serving the pig farming industry and meat product transformation sector. Through its constant pursuit of improvement, dedication to animal welfare, and commitment to sustainability, it is significantly contributing to the economic, societal, and environmental performance within the pork sector, signposting a promising future for the industry.