Taiwan Sugar’s new pig vaccine wins national award

台糖公司研發的新型豬疫苗榮獲國家級獎項

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Sugar’s newly developed pig diarrhea vaccine, which boosts immune protection for piglets through the mother pigs' milk, has won the agricultural technology award at the 22nd National Innovation Awards.

At Wednesday’s awards ceremony, Taiwan Sugar Chair Wu Ming-chang (吳明昌) said the honor recognizes the company’s work in developing animal vaccines. The vaccine is in the approval process, with mass production planned for the pig farming sector, per CNA.

The company said the vaccine is based on a strong strain of the virus. Vaccinated mother pigs pass immunity to their piglets through their first milk, helping reduce severe illness and deaths during the first week and protecting against different virus strains that cause diarrhea.

In contrast, older vaccines made it easier for mother pigs to become infected before developing antibodies, the company added.

Taiwan Sugar operates 16 pig farms, 13 of which are undergoing renovations, making it one of the largest pig farming companies in the nation. Once the upgrades are complete, the facilities will increase production capacity to 700,000 pigs, accounting for 10% of Taiwan’s total pig population.

Wu said the company’s pig farm upgrades are set to cost around NT$12.4 billion (US$390 million) and will include solar panels and equipment that generate electricity from pig manure, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To promote pig health, Taiwan Sugar adds probiotics to its feed to support gut health and cut back on antibiotic use, aiming to produce drug-free pork. The company noted that it does not use leftover food in its farms, in line with the government’s 2027 ban on feeding food waste to pigs.

Taiwan Sugar added that its pig housing meets animal-friendly farming standards, giving each pig enough space to move. Pregnant and farrowing sows are provided with individual pens to ensure proper care during gestation and nursing.

The company has also adopted curtain-ventilated pig houses with fans and adjustable curtains. The system can lower farm temperatures by up to 5 C, improving air circulation to reduce odors. Research shows the upgrades also improve breeding.