Nijhof Pig Farm B.V., located in Haaksbergen, is run by the Nijhof family. The day-to-day operations are managed by the family of four, along with several permanent employees. When the farm experienced diarrhoea among newborn piglets in 2020, it was time for a change. Want to discover how they tackled this with AHV?

The Nijhof family purchased the farm in Haaksbergen in 1986. At the time, it had 100 sows and 17,000 broilers. Over the years, the number of animals has grown to 1,200 sows and 30,000 broilers. In addition, the company has another location with fattening pigs, which means that over half of the business operates as a closed system. The fact that farming is in the family’s heart is clear from the desire of both daughter Femke and son Luuk to take over the business. They both want to follow in their parents’ footsteps.

“We both have a great love for pig farming. Of course, we were brought up with it. When your parents are enthusiastic about what they do, as a son or daughter you definitely pick up on that,” say the Nijhof children.

After speaking with the family, it’s easy to see why the children have been inspired by their parents’ enthusiasm. The Nijhof family speaks with pride and passion about pig farming and the successful business they have built.

Conversion and Expansion

To prepare for the future, the family built a new piglet barn in 2016, followed by a sow barn in 2017. In addition, they purchased a new location in 2019 to increase capacity.

“We have expanded from a closed farm with 400 sows to 1,200 sows. We are also in the process of switching to Danish sows with a rotational crossbreeding programme,” says Nijhof. “The final boar is a PIC 408.”

Involving Consumers in Pig Farming

The family also feels responsible for giving consumers an honest and transparent view of the sector and for making an educational contribution. Upon arrival at the farm, a sign immediately stands out: “Come and see the pigs!” The family has set up a viewing barn where passers-by can look inside.

“Many consumers have an image or opinion about the sector, but they don’t visit a pig farm on a daily basis. Once people visit a farm—any viewing barn, really—nine out of ten visitors are positive about how the sector operates. We keep a guest book, and when you leaf through it, you’ll find almost exclusively positive comments.”

Animal Welfare of Sows and Piglets Is a Top Priority

As soon as we walk into the barn, it is immediately apparent that animal welfare plays a central role on the farm. The facility is exceptionally clean and well organised; there is a clear structure that everyone adheres to in the interest of the animals. One farrowing unit accommodates around 52 sows. The farrowing pen is a free-range system, meaning that five days after farrowing, the sow is released. Only the nursery section of the pen is heated, using sustainable energy.

First Contact with AHV

In 2021, the farm faced an outbreak of Clostridium, which caused all newborn piglets to suffer from diarrhoea. This was a major source of frustration for the family, as maintaining optimal animal health is a top priority. When you put so much time and energy into your animals, it’s difficult to see them struggle.

When AHV was introduced to the family via their feed supplier in June 2021, it took some time to get to know each other.

“At that moment, we thought, here comes yet another company with solutions. We weren’t really interested. But because of the outbreaks among the newborn piglets, we decided to talk to them anyway. Fortunately, it resulted in a great collaboration—and, more importantly, the animal health of the newborn piglets has improved significantly.”

After a visit from an AHV Specialist, the farm started using AHV Control Liquid for newborn piglets. AHV Control Liquid is a dietary feed that promotes microbial balance and intestinal function in piglets. This results in a healthy water and electrolyte balance, supporting the piglets’ digestion. The product was used on all piglets for a period of time—a drastic step, but a necessary one to bring Clostridium-related diarrhoea under control.

Diarrhoea Under Control in Piglets

Naturally, we were curious to learn how and to what extent AHV Control Liquid contributed to reducing diarrhoea in the piglets.

“It was an energy boost for us to get the diarrhoea under control. Regular remedies weren’t working at the time. We tried everything, but we couldn’t achieve the results we needed. With Control Liquid, we were able to solve the problem structurally—a wonderful result we hadn’t expected. Now, we’re completely convinced of the product’s effectiveness. In fact, it has become part of our daily routine: grinding teeth, disinfecting navels, and administering Control.”

‘Growth Continues’

The Nijhof pig farm had been proactively searching for the right solution all along but hadn’t achieved the desired results—until they started working with AHV Control Liquid.

“Once we realised that we had tackled the core of the challenge, we changed our approach. We gradually phased out the use of Control Liquid. We now only use Control for piglets that are placed with gilts, because we see that they still get diarrhoea. We can keep these groups under control perfectly well.”

“And that’s exactly what the product is designed for,” adds Lisa Godding, Product Manager Swine at AHV International. “AHV Control Liquid promotes microbial balance and intestinal function. Administering Control Liquid leads to an active reduction in neonatal diarrhoea. The active ingredients in Control Liquid support intestinal health and ensure that the nutrients in the gut are left undisturbed. You don’t see sunken flanks—the piglets continue to grow and drink their milk. This is also positive for the sow, as the piglets stimulate milk production and help maintain lactation.”

“We also recommend giving AHV Activate Liquid from birth,” Lisa continues. “A lot happens to piglets during this period. They are sometimes separated from their mother, and a new hierarchy has to be established. To prevent them from going into an energy slump, we offer AHV Activate Liquid. This product contains no sugars, which can feed unwanted bacteria, but is based on rapidly absorbable fats and oils, helping piglets cope for the next 24 hours. It also contains an element that supports intestinal development.”

Is It Affordable?

When asked whether AHV’s products are affordable, Nijhof laughs.

“Certainly not in the beginning—but that’s because we had a big challenge. We gave all piglets Control Liquid to get the diarrhoea under control. That increased costs, but improved piglet vitality was more important to us! With our current health approach, the costs are manageable because we now use it proactively. It’s also very valuable to have a product that isn’t just a traditional remedy—that’s definitely worth something to us.”

Healthy Food Supply Chain and Support for Livestock Farmers

“Now that we know how to use it properly, things are going well. We occasionally contact AHV Specialist Paul by telephone—he provides excellent support. If something isn’t right, we contact him directly, and he drives over from Limburg to give us specific advice and deliver the products. If other pig farmers have problems with diarrhoea, we would definitely recommend AHV Control Liquid.”

In addition to being a great result for the farmers, it’s also a wonderful achievement for the AHV Swine team.

“After helping dairy cattle achieve better health, it’s now the pigs’ turn,” say Lisa (PM) and Paul from AHV Benelux. “As a company, we want to contribute to a healthy, high-quality food supply chain. At AHV, everyone works toward this goal every day. It makes us very proud to share these experiences with others. After many trials and tests over the past few years, it’s a relief to see the products working so effectively in the pigsty.”

In addition to ensuring a healthy food supply chain, AHV places great importance on helping and supporting livestock farmers. Farming should always be both possible and enjoyable.

We’ll end this first interview with our pig farmers with a wonderful final quote from the Nijhof family:

“I am happy again when I enter the farrowing pen.”