Housing systems for sows in Denmark

Service facility; Stalls or loose housing? Increased safety Good overview Competitive price High-quality management Increased risk Expensive system UK production Danish Pig Production

Increased safety

Good overview

Competitive price

High-quality management

Increased risk

Expensive system

UK production

Confrontations between sows Danish Pig Production

Activity during heat Danish Pig Production

Activity according to ranking Danish Pig Production

Free access feeding stalls

Group housed gestating sows % of sows Lisbeth Ulrich Hansen Danish Pig Production

Free access feeding stalls Simultaneous feeding Individual feed ration Management and control of feed ration Requires a large area Danish Pig Production Video link 3739 / 3748

Simultaneous feeding

Individual feed ration

Management and control of feed ration

Requires a large area

One feeding stall / sow; no substrate / rectangle alley behind

One feeding stall / sow; no substrate No natural lying area outside the stall Extensive dunging behavior in the entire area outside the stall Lying walls do not significantly affect behavior Impossible to keep bedding/rooting material dry Video of “pigs’ view

No natural lying area outside the stall

Extensive dunging behavior in the entire area outside the stall

Lying walls do not significantly affect behavior

Impossible to keep bedding/rooting material dry

One feeding stall / sow; with substrate

Back portion slatted = concrete Front part solid = concrete Back gate swings shut to not allow another sow in Sows nose presses this panel Feeders / nipple drinkers

See Saw

Concrete alleyways

Video of sows in and out

Able to manipulate the closure of back gates manually if needed

One feeding stall / sow; T pen

One feeding stall / sow; T pen Separated lying and dunging areas Well-defined lying areas Possibilities for supplying bedding 50 to 75% sows in lying area during resting period Entry zone to lying area dirty DKK 10,000 per place unit (ESF = DKK 7,000) OR $1,700 Danish Pig Production

Separated lying and dunging areas

Well-defined lying areas

Possibilities for supplying bedding

50 to 75% sows in lying area during resting period

Entry zone to lying area dirty

DKK 10,000 per place unit (ESF = DKK 7,000)

OR $1,700

One feeding stall / sow; T pen – limited substrate

Video link 3993

One feeding stall / sow; L pen

Arrangement of activity area Min. 3 m Min. 3 m Danish Pig Production (3 m = 9.84 ft)

Activity area Manure is easily pushed through Manure is less easily pushed through Slatted floor is placed “opposite the lying area”

Manure is easily pushed through

Manure is less easily pushed through

Slatted floor is placed “opposite the lying area”

Danish recommended stall dimensions – interior measurements Danish Pig Production Note the length is stated from the back of the trough i.e. the edge of the trough nearest to the sow 210 (82 in) 60 (23 in) Standard Service/control facility with stalls 210 (82 in) 60 (23 in) Feeding & resting stall Gestation facility with loose housing 210 (82 in) 70 (27 in) Large Length, cm Width, cm Stall Housing section

Housing temperature affects behavior The higher the temperature inside, the fewer sows in the free area Danish Pig Production Loafing area Stalls

Sows’ use of feeding stalls Danish Pig Production 54 55 35 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 % % sows in deep litter Recently served Halfway gest . Gest.

Sows’ use Danish Pig Production 39 42 62 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 % % sows in deep litter Morning Afternoon Evening

Sows that need treatment

Legislative requirements Always have one free hospital (relief) pen place ready for use! Min. 3.5 m 2 (~38 ft 2 ) unobstructed free area Relief pens for more animals -> 2.8 m 2 (~30 ft 2 ) unobstructed free area per animal Max. 3 animals per relief pen! 2/3 soft bedding Cooling and heating possibilities

Always have one free hospital (relief) pen place ready for use!

Min. 3.5 m 2 (~38 ft 2 ) unobstructed free area

Relief pens for more animals -> 2.8 m 2 (~30 ft 2 ) unobstructed free area per animal

Max. 3 animals per relief pen!

2/3 soft bedding

Cooling and heating possibilities

Recommended design of hospital pens

General notes from the trip Most producers would bred in stalls, preg. check, and then move them into the groups Most groups were static in nature Tried to group them by size Vets visit once a month Shoulder lesions are a BIG issue All sorts of floor types, substrate use!

Most producers would bred in stalls, preg. check, and then move them into the groups

Most groups were static in nature

Tried to group them by size

Vets visit once a month

Shoulder lesions are a BIG issue

All sorts of floor types, substrate use!

Questions