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STIMULATION, COVERING AND FIRST STAGE OF GESTATION
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The equipment for this sector can be substantially referable to the single cages and to stalls for groups of sows and for boars. Besides its dimensions, width, length and height, the cage is characterized by the features of its different components and namely by:
- type of floor: the front part is made of concrete screed, preferably “hot”, while the rear part, about 80-100 cm, has a grating floor that can be realized with either vibrated reinforced concrete or galvanized steel or PVC-coated..
- type of external barriers: the side barriers or stable rails can be made of crude, hot-galvanized or stainless steel, with vertical round bars or horizontal tubes differently shaped according to their use. The rear gate can be ‘blind’ or ‘open’, depending on the presence of split floors in the rear passage and the necessity to reach the sow easily.
- type of fodder-trough: it depends on the feeding typology, either ‘dry’ or ‘liquid’ and on any feeding systems.
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SECOND STAGE OF GESTATION
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An important part of the new regulation pertaining to animals’ welfare, concerns pregnant sows. Important changes regarding space, flooring, type of stabling and feeding systems have been there introduced. As far as the type of stabling for pregnant sows is concerned, cages are abolished throughout the whole period of gestation. The implementation of the above-mentioned regulations leads to obvious problems related to the competitiveness within the different groups of sows, but also to difficulties regarding the management and the accomplishment of everyday operations of control and tending of animals. Rota Guido S.r.l., leader in the development of advanced technologies within the zootechnical farming long since, has developed a range of equipment and plants particularly suited for a correct management of sows bred in groups.
FEEDING-STALLS WITH CATCHING SYSTEM FOR SOWS IN GROUPS
They basically consist of cages for pregnant sows and/or young sows, like the fodder-stalls model, so that the animal is obliged to pass through them in order to get access to the feed hopper or to the fodder-trough. Peculiar rocker-arm devices or gates with control levers, let the animal eat its own ration quietly without being attacked by higher-ranking sows.
In order to reduce the competitiveness during the feeding time, special feeding plants have also been arranged for a correct distribution of feed.
BIOLOGICAL-FIXATION CONTEMPORANEOUS FEEDING FOR SOWS
The contemporaneous feeding system allows sows in groups to eat quietly and at the same time.
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Another interesting solution for sows bred in groups is represented by the computerized system called CALLMATIC, which can be either employed for sows on straw, or on solid and/or split vibrated ferroconcrete floor. CALLMATIC system “food on request” makes possible the individual feeding of sows bred in groups. This type of farming, if well organized, is highly beneficial to animals, since it put at their disposal a wider space, which, together with the individual food distribution, consistent with the needs of each sow, guarantees a homogeneous growth of the animals as well as positive after-effects on the brood.
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FARROWING SECTOR
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The typology of cages, which are distinctive equipment in this kind of sector, must be chosen according to the zootechnical aspects and to the structural and dimensional features of shelters. The ‘linear’ solution, for example, is suitable for the farrowing and the suckling only, while if the cage shall be used also during the weaning, a ‘transverse’ solution is certainly recommended. In this latter type of cage sows are positioned diagonally, within it. More recently, by following the requests of animalists who have difficulties bearing the idea of animals put into cages, where they cannot behave in a natural way, a different typology has been developed, according to which, the sow remains in the cage only for some days after the delivery, and they are then allowed to perform the suckling out of the cage, since the piglets are protected by railings and escape gangways.
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The cage is not only distinguished by the position of the sow, but also by some peculiar components: the typology of the external railings, the barriers of the sows’ stalls, the different fodder-troughs for sows and piglets, the nursery, the water and electric plants placed on the side of each cage, and also the typology of the ground. Actually, this makes often the difference, since it is crucial for the comfort of animals, for the good standard of cleanliness, but also for the reduction to a minimum of the crushing among animals.
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Detail of bottoms of cages with polypropylene panels on stainless steel-bases suited for piglet pens and cast-iron level surface for sows’ stall, or with original “Tenderfoot” round plastic-coated panels, with nursery areas equipped with heating plates.
WEANING SECTOR
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This is certainly the most delicate sector of the whole farming. In fact it is intended for the sheltering of particularly stressed piglets, because of both their parting from their mothers and their transportation and further allocation to a new place. As specific sector, it is present only when the farming technology provides for the use of the delivery area just for the period needed for the suckling.
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EQUIPMENT FOR THE WEANING SECTOR
They are basically represented by raised cages or by stalls on ground. The building typologies of the different components (floor, side railings, fodder-troughs and plants) have to be developed according to the peculiar requirements of each farming. Some innovative solutions related to emerging techniques for an ‘early weaning’ are much interesting. By arranging a restricted area with a warm floor, it is possible to guarantee very young piglets with high comfort conditions
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It should also be noted the new solutions regarding the outdoor weaning, within self-supporting specialized sectors.
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By arranging rest areas, conveniently sheltered and with a controlled temperature, it is possible to offer piglets ideal conditions, either during their rest, or when they move according to their behavioural needs and in order to eat. It is worth noting that with a lower temperature within the shelter, piglets increase their feed-intake, which is then assimilated thanks to the ideal temperature in the rest area. In this way it is therefore possible to obtain considerable energy savings, as a result of smaller warmed up volumes, together with higher preservation indexes of the components, which greatly reward the investment and the control operations.
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FATTENING SECTOR
They house pigs weighing from 25-35 kg till the final weight, for a quite long period (6 to 7 months), during which the space and microclimatic requirements change considerably. Stabling can be made up of multiple stalls with completely or partially split ground..
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Equipment for the fattening sector are basically represented by the barriers of each stall and by fodder-troughs. The barriers delimiting the stalls can be blind, totally open or with a blind base. The choice of one of these different solutions, depends on many aspects: easy visual control, transport of animals, easy accomplishment of refinements, without being obliged to carry out even more expensive and difficult brickworks, and the chance to use barriers as partition walls within double fodder-troughs by fixing them on pre-existing structures, without having to move the animals.
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Fodder-troughs are available either for dry feeding, with stainless steel or PVC hopper containers, suitable for a feeding-on-demand, whether meal or pellet, single-place or multi-sections, or for liquid feeding in troughs. Available fodder-troughs are made of stainless steel, of every length, single or double, with one or two channels.
For the installation, you can either use the additional concrete casting or the direct bolting by means of stainless steel clamps.
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