 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Joe Connor, Carthage (IL) Veterinary
Service, Ltd., says water cups should
be located throughout
the pens in
a FAST™ (Farmweld Automatic Sorting Technology) facility, rather
than centralized in
one location. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weaning pigs into super-large pens in FAST™ (Farmweld
Automatic Sorting Technology) barns is possible, but it requires
paying attention to a couple of key areas, according to Dr.
Joseph Connor. Dr. Connor’s a leading expert on managing
wean-to-finish facilities and senior consultant with the
Carthage (IL) Veterinary Service, Ltd.
Dr. Connor suggests producers manually
sort pigs at entry by weight into three groups: light medium
and heavy. Farmweld has developed a FAST layout that
accommodates this early sorting by allowing operators to
create temporary 100-head pens within large pens. Here are
some of the basics Dr. Connor says are needed to manage weaned
pigs in large pens:
- Enough feed mats to provide all pigs
access during the early phase after entry. Producers should
provide between 0.4-0.5 square feet per pig of mat if the
mat is used for sleeping as well as eating.
- Zone heat using heat lamps, brooder
infrared heaters or tube infrared heaters to provide a
comfortable environment. Producers should provide one heat
lamp or brooder infrared heater for 25-50 pigs, depending
on location in facility and type of lamp or brooder.
- Enough experienced labor to feed at
least five times per day, especially the first two days
after entry. “Large pens require a keen eye to spot
pigs that aren’t getting started eating,” says
Dr. Connor. He says these pigs should be separated and
managed as a smaller group until they get started.
Good access to feed and water. Feeders
and cups must be designed to accommodate small pigs as well
as finishing pigs. Dr. Connor says water cups should be scattered
throughout the large pens, rather than grouped all together
in a central watering area. He says this gives pigs better
access to water throughout the day. “There is no reason
for pigs to have to travel to one central place to get water,” he
says. He suggests putting cups in the loafing areas and in
food courts, near
feeders. “You want your water by the feeders because pigs will eat and
drink in coordination,” says Dr. Connor. |
Return