Pig Livability Project Secured $1.6 Million in Funding
Pork producers and researchers have launched new initiatives to boost survival rates and farm profitability.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Agriculture
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The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and industry partners have committed $1.64 million to the Pig Livability Project. The funding aims to reduce animal mortality and improve producer margins through seven newly selected research projects.
Why it matters
Reducing pig mortality directly impacts producer profitability by allowing the same level of production with smaller breeding herds. This project provides operators with data-driven methods to optimize farm efficiency and animal welfare.
The project secured $1,643,357 in new funding, comprising $750,000 from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and $893,357 from industry stakeholders. Experts estimate a 1% improvement in survival could add 1.2 million pigs annually, potentially reducing the required breeding herd by 46,000 sows.
The players
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
A non-profit organization that builds public-private partnerships to fund food and agriculture research.
Iowa State University
A major public land-grant university recognized for its extensive agricultural research and extension services.
Kansas State University
A leading research university with a specialized focus on agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.
The details
The Pig Livability Project, led by Iowa State University and Kansas State University, integrates farm-specific data with education and extension efforts. By identifying mortality costs, the initiative enables producers to better manage their financials. A prior trial on a 4,800-sow farm demonstrated that targeted interventions could reduce mortality by 4.9 percent, saving an estimated $240,000.
Timeline
2019-2024: Initial project research and funding period.
- 2026-10-05
Announcement of new project funding.
Market Landscape
This initiative follows the collaborative funding pattern established by the 2018 Farm Bill's agricultural research provisions. It marks a continued shift toward industry-led efforts to optimize livestock output through data-driven farm management.
Producers should monitor the output of the seven new research projects for potential operational improvements that could reduce overhead costs. Assessing current mortality rates against the project's benchmarks may help identify immediate opportunities for margin improvement.
The takeaway
Optimizing pig survival rates is a key driver for long-term farm profitability. Operators should track the project's findings to determine which mortality reduction strategies are most applicable to their own herd size.
Further reading
For more on industry-wide agricultural initiatives, visit the Agriculture section.
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Do you believe investments in livestock efficiency research are beneficial for the agricultural industry?
