Tour - Farrowing House
- The farrowing house is divided into rooms
- Each room is operated on an all in/all out basis
- The rooms are power washed, disinfected and allowed to dry between batches
- Each room accommodates 10 sows
- Sows access the crates from a central passage
- The central passage ensures good observation of the sows and litters
- Sows are fed twice each day
- Dry feed is dispensed automatically
- A front passage allows for inspection of the feed troughs
- Ad lib water is available via nipple drinkers
- To encourage higher intakes, additional water is supplied by a hose pipe after each feed
- The farrowing pens are 2.4m x 1.8m
- Static farrowing crates with floating rails are used
- Farrowing pen design allows the pigs good access to the sows teats
- Supplementary heat is provided by electric heat pads.
- Plastic slats to each side of the crate ensures piglet comfort
- Cast iron slats under the sow discourages the pigs from lying in this area
- The raised cast iron section improves piglet access to the sows teats.
- Creep is offered from 17 days in plastic feeders