Trickle feeding

• System Components
• Feeding System
• Housing Layout
• Application in the Service
• System Management
• Gilt Management
• Positive and Negetive Features

• A lying area which may be kennelled.
• A slatted/scraped dunging area.
• A feeding area incorporating head and shoulder divisions
• A timed auger dispensing mechanism which deposits feed at pre-selected intervals to individual feeding points.

• Flat rate feeding for each group.
• The trough is divided by head and shoulder barriers, typically 0.45 m (1’6") long.
  

• Sows are generally fed once a day.
• Based on the principle of matching the speed of feed delivery to the eating speed of the sow to ‘fix’ the sow to one feeding space, that is, reduce the potential advantage of changing feeding position.
• A feed dispenser (with calibrated adjustment) for each feeding space is filled via a top auger. Feed is dispensed by a trickle mechanism to each feeding point.
• Feeding delivery speed is typically 80-120 g/minute.
  

• Suitable for a new building or a conversion.
• Controlled environment houses or uninsulated general purpose building with straw or kennels can be used.

• Slatted or solid scrape through systems.
• Floor surface should be well drained and easy to clean providing adequate grip without causing physical foot damage.
• Deep straw bedded systems could be used but the feeding trough would need to be protected from straw build-up.
• If slatted systems are used slats must be of good quality, well laid and level. The type and quality of slats for breeding animals need to be very specific to provide adequate support for the foot, good grip to prevent slipping and no sharp edges to cause foot or leg damage.
  

• In general purpose buildings thermal comfort can be improved by the use of kennels.
• If no kennels are provided, generous straw use is required with no draughts at pig level.
• Higher feed levels may be needed to compensate for any environmental deficiencies.
• No kennels are required in controlled environment houses and straw use can be reduced.

• Minimum 1.4m2 (15 sq. ft) lying area per sow.
• Dunging area varies from 0.9-1.39m2 (9½-15 sq. ft) per sow, depending on group size.
• Feeder stalls typically 0.45m (1’6") wide with shoulder barriers 0.45-0.9m (1’6"-2’8") long.
• Longer barriers may be too narrow for large sows and impede sow movement away from a feeding space if challenged increasing the risk of aggression.
  

• A step up to feeding trough of 100 mm (4") is recommended with a fall back to the dunging area to prevent muck contamination.
• A 100 mm (4") step to lying area is recommended.

       

• Boar pens can be sited alongside group pens.
• There is no individual containment of sows for AI.
• Removal of sows may be difficult unless an access gate is provided in each pen.

• Normally fed once a day on a flat rate system for each group.
• Simultaneous feeding provides a good opportunity to check sows.
• Group size is dictated by the number of feeding spaces.
• Removal of sows may be difficult unless an access gate is provided in each pen.
• Sows should be matched for size wherever possible and preferably mixed before introduction to the feeding system.
• Sow displacement at feeding can occur. To date this has not caused significant aggression problems but feed delivery rate should be modified to suit conditions in biofix or trickle feed systems.
• It is preferable to have contemporary sow groups i.e. mixed at weaning or over a maximum 2 weeks period.
• Thin or fat sows may need to be removed for individual feeding as appropriate.

• Suitable feeding system for gilts, in separate groups.
• Gilts have a slower eating speed than sows.