Tips for
Wean-to-finish and Large Pens
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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. |
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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:
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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.
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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.
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