Farrowing Area

Farrowing Area

Farrowing crate, piglet nest with heatable resting area, feeding and slat system

The farrowing pens must offer the best conditions for both the sows and the piglets in their first weeks of life. Big Dutchman also offers for this a wide range of products, from the standard pen, to group management, through the movement pen and free farrowing.

The pen system is very flexible, as it does not depend on length measurements. Thus a pen can be created with the desired shape. The pen partitions can have a height of 500 or 600 mm.

Standard farrowing pens

Our second standard farrowing pen with BD Swing is available in lengths of 2200 and 2300 mm. It offers the possibility of a front exit (optional). The feeder can be used as a fixed or tilting variant. The piglet nests with heating plate provide the adequate welfare to the piglets. Cast iron slats are used under the sows.

Key advantages:

our farrowing crates are adjustable in width and length;
easy to open with a door from behind;
available with front exit;
height-adjustable protective bars prevent piglet losses by crushing and provide the sow with a comfortable resting area;
4-foot farrowing crate for good stability;
low pen partition in the control aisle area → easy supervision and control of the animals;
tilting feeder to facilitate its deep cleaning (optional).

Movement pen with piglet-saver frame

With ActiWel we have developed a movement pen that offers the sow and the piglets ideal conditions for their first weeks of life and plenty of space. The pen consists of a resting area for piglets or nest, which can be heated, piglet-saver frame, floor system and pen partition.

It can be installed parallel to the aisle or perpendicular, with the head toward the wall. The low partition walls allow very good supervision of the room and easy entry into the pen.

Key advantages:

very easy opening: the piglet-saver frame opens and closes easily, with only four maneuvers in five seconds. For this, there is no need to access the sow area → very comfortable handling;
the specially configured door of the piglet-saver frame facilitates the staff's help during farrowing;
the side parts of the frame also serve the sow as support aid;
high work safety, because the opening and fastening points are located outside the sow area.

Group sow management in the farrowing or maternity area

Under the name Agilo, Big Dutchman simultaneously presents three new systems for managing sows with piglets: Agilo HL, Agilo FB, Agilo RS

The three systems are characterized by offering more space for the sows and their piglets. Although group sow management has already become established in the mating area and the gestation area, it is still infrequent for sows with piglets.

This is due to a somewhat greater demand in terms of management and observation of animals. Against this are the existing advantages of following the natural behavior pattern of sow and piglets.

Key advantages:

with Agilo HL and FB, the sows are already in a group before farrowing;
for farrowing, the sows are together with their piglets in the litter compartment → close bond between mother and offspring and lower risk of losses by crushing;
opening of the litter compartment after a few days or, with Agilo RS, transfer of sows and piglets to a group pen
→ good interaction between the sows and all the piglets of a group
→ the piglets can give free rein to their need for movement
→ possible hierarchical fights are settled early, which reduces the risk of harm to the piglets;
the great freedom of movement of the sows favors metabolic activity and, with it, feed intake; the sows stay in good physical shape.