VSP.LF.DK

VSP-INFO@LF.DK

PIG RESEARCH

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Farrowing pens with crated sows

Senior Project Manager

Lisbeth Brogaard Petersen

M.Sc. Agric. Sci.

PIG RESEARCH

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Typical Danish farrowing pen

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Farrowing pen – recommendations

170 - 180 cm

260 - 270 cm

210 cm

65 cm

90 cm

The dimensions of the crate apply to 95 percent of the sows (Report no. 649).

15-20 cm

PIG RESEARCH

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Improved of access to udder is essential

Pen size “160 cm x 260 cm” vs. “180 cm x 270 cm”

– Higher weaning weight (app. +300 g/piglet)

– Report no. 739

Loose sow vs. crated sow

– Fewer fights at udder

– Fewer “unsuccessful” lactations

– Milk let down raised form 8 sec. to 10 sec.

– In press

Improved crate vs. normal crate

– On-going DAPR trial

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Farrowing pen – recommendations

- improving the access to the udder

0,8 m2

>125 cm

70 cm

55 cm

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Solid floor

”All piglets…rest simultaneously on either solid floor or slatted

floor covered with a mat or bedding….This resting area must be

dry, comfortable and separated from the sow area.” (Government

order no. 323).

Area, partial lateral position:

– 0,027 x W0,66

– 14 piglets, 4 weeks old = 1,51 m2.

– 14 piglets, 5 weeks old = 1,79 m2.

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Sow in a crate

Legislation:

”The sow must be able to rest, get up and lie down without

difficulty.” (Government order no. 323).

Challenges:

Increased focus on the crate in 3 dimensions

– Width: lateral position vs. width: standing

– Width: when lying down – width: when getting up

– …and the same regarding length

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What is sufficient when standing and lying?

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Old vs. new crates - standing

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”Old” vs. ”new” crates – lateral position

”old” farrowing crate – fx ACO Funki ”new” farrowing crate - AP-Welfare

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Not perfect….but better

AP Company, model WelfareAP Company, model “standard” with

wide gate

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New design of creep area ?

Better use of the same pen area – new design

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Creep area facing aisle and easy acces

to sow when giving obstetric aid

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Solid floor underneath the sow and piglets –

slatted floor in the remaining area

Purpose:

Good hygiene

Preserve the space

needed for nursing

Disadvantages at the

moment:

No integrated solutions

yet

Adding costs and

complicates the building

process

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Why loose-housing in the farrowing unit?

Improved welfare for sows

Increased milk uptake for

piglets

More even piglets at weaning

Better motivation of staff

Improve public image

Key success factor:

Enable the sow to take

better care of more of her

own piglets

15

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16

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Piglets’ environment

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Piglets’ critical temperatureLower = 34 C Upper = 37 C

Temperature

Body temperature

LCT UCT

Comfort zone

Heat production

18

27-28 C

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Influencing lower critical temperature - Slaughter pigs

C

Air velocity rising from 0,2 to 0,5 m/s +4

Wet surface +5-10

Floor heating +5 C 1

Dry litter 10

Kilde: Bruce, J.M. & Clark, J.J. (1979).

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Temperature and air movements

Kilde: Svend Morsing

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Covered piglet area stabilise air movements

Kilde: Svend Morsing

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Uden forkant

30 C

10 C

Med forkant

30 C

10 C

Benefit from edged front

Kilde: Svend Morsing

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Environmental technology (cooling of slurry)

affects the climate surrounding the newborn piglet

køl

15 C

20 C

3-15 C3 C

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Temperature of floor/air at farrowing

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Temperature

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Temperature of floor/air at farrowing

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Prediction of farrowing or health disorder

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Project: Use of acceleration data technology

Aim: automatic detection of farrowingmodeling and monitoring activity type (Univ. of Copenhagen, Cecile Cornou)

Punctured line: lying laterally

Black line: standing/lying sternally

Bars: feeding/rooting/nest building

1. Pig born

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Thermal environment - sow

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Cooling of the sow

- concrete elements

Heating for the piglets

Cooling of sow

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Cooling of the sow – farm no. 2

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Control Floor cooling

Sows, no. 115 112

Weaned piglets per sow, no. 11,8 12,1

Weight gain, piglets, g/day 267 261

Weight loss - sow, % 14,3 14,6

Shoulder lesions, % of sows

(no. total: 380 sows)

6 5

Floor cooling, herd 1– production results (farm in DAPR)

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Cooling effect = 60 Watt/sowequals 10-20 % of the free heat production of the sow

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Theoretical cooling effect = 4,5 C

– 28 C / 55% r.h. up to 80% r.h.

Temperature lowered by 3-4 C compared to control group

– Out side temperature 25 - 30 C

Water consumption, sows

– No difference between groups

– 26,5 litres/sow/day

Shoulder lesions

– No difference between groups

Feed intake

– Cooling: Slightly higher feed intake

High pressure water sprinkling

+ supplemental air intake

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Danish pens in 5 years time ? “Welfare crates”

Floor elements– Solid floor under sow and piglets and drainage in the rest of the pen (new

floor design)

– Heating behind and under the sow at farrowing

– (Cooling of the sow from day 7)

– Creep area in front of the sow

Cooling of manure from day 7 + 15 pct. air outlet through the floor– Fresh air in the pens and for the staff

– Reduced energy costs to ventilation

– Reduced emission of odour and NH3

– Capture of odour and NH3 through floor outlet

– Cooling of the sow

Fresh air to the sow

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Management tools

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Management tool – “Fact Sheet no. 6”

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Management tool – how to make a nurse sow

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Management tools – videos