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Farrowing crates or farrowing pens for loose sows

Farrowing

Optimal environment for piglets and sows

The farrowing unit can be designed either for loose sows or with farrowing crates. At SKIOLD we have a solution that meet your requirements.

Pen design - crates

Farrowing crates are the most commonly used production system in farrowing units due to high animal safety, creating an environment for high production efficiency.

This is because the piglets are protected by the farrowing wings which prevent the sow from laying on the piglets, thus significantly reducing piglets mortality.

In addition, the farrowing wings also ensure that the sow can not turn around in the pen, dunging in an appropriate area to help maintain the hygiene of the pen.

The modern farrowing crate is adjustable in both length and width to accommodate both small and large sows.

To ensure the vitality and growth of the piglets, the design of the crate is made with consideration of the space the piglets need - both in the covered creep area but also to create the best possible conditions for a good nursing period.

Feeding in the farrowing crates could be either dry feeding or liquid feeding.

Pen design - loose sows

Farrowing pens for loose, lactating sows can be designed according to two principles: no crate or with a short-term use of a crate.

The farrowing pens for loose sows are designed with focus on the sows’ as well as the piglets’ behaviour, incorporating features that protect the piglets from beeing injuried when the sow lays down.

SKIOLD pens for sows housed loose throughout or most of the lactating period allow a far greater freedom of movement than traditional systems in order to increase sow welfare. At the same time,

productivity is in focus, which puts requirements on layout and dimensioning of the pen.

Water

Water is important - and especially for the lactating sow - as water consumption has a direct impact on milk production and thus indirectly affects the growth of piglets.

Therefore, both accessibility and water quality and quantity have an impact on production efficiency. In addition, larger feed intake requires larger water consumption.

Several other factors affect the water requirement, i.e. the composition of feed, the general health and temperature and climate conditions.

In general, a lactating sow needs 25-35 litres of water per day, and the piglets' needs are 1-2 litres per day, incl. sow milk.

Ventilation, heating and cooling

The climate in the farrowing unit is of great importance for the wellbeing and health of both sows and piglets.

Therefore SKIOLD continuously work to minimize energy consumption and optimize reliability for all our climate systems.

SKIOLD is a total supplier of ventilation for pig farms; negative pressure, equal pressure, diffuse pressure, combi-diffuse as well as tunnel ventilation.

The SKIOLD VisioVent controls all climate solutions covering diffuse ventilation, controlled air intake as well as heating, soaking, high pressure cooling and sprinkling.

Flooring

The flooring has great impact on the health and well-being of your animals in the pen, but it can also impact the behavior of the pigs.

The floor can be combined in many different ways to take the pigs, the staff and the environment into consideration and what is the right solution is not always the same from farm to farm.