Part 3 Free Access Gestation Sow Systems From Denmark August of 2008, Dr. Anna Johnson, Iowa State University, from the 2009 Iowa Pork Congress, January 28 - 29, Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Proper animal husbandry continues to be a major issue in the pork industry and is essential to maintain the trust of consumers. She will discuss proper animal handling techniques and animal husbandry. Anna will also share her experience with new sow housing techniques seen on her trip to Denmark in August 2008.

1. ISU
Housing systems for sows in
Denmark

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

3. ISU
Confrontations between sows
0
5
10
15
20
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Days after weaning
No/sow/24H
Danish Pig Production

4. ISU
Activity during heat
0
5
10
15
20
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
0 = standing heat
number/sow/day
Mounting
Flank nosing
Boar contact
Danish Pig Production

5. ISU
Activity according to ranking
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
No/sow/day
high rank medium rank low rank
nosing flank nosing mounting
Danish Pig Production

6. ISU
Free access feeding stalls

7. ISU
Group housed gestating sows
0
20
40
60
80
100
2000 2005 2010
Year
% of sows
Lisbeth Ulrich Hansen Danish Pig
Production

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

9. ISU One feeding stall / sow; no substrate /
rectangle alley behind

10. ISU 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

11. ISU
One feeding stall / sow; with substrate

12. ISU
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

13. ISU
See Saw

14. ISU

15. ISU

16. ISU
Concrete
alleyways

17. ISU

18. ISU
Video of sows in and out

19. ISU

20. ISU
Able to manipulate the closure of back gates
manually if needed

21. ISU

22. ISU One feeding stall / sow; T pen

23. ISU
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

24. ISU One feeding stall / sow; T pen – limited
substrate

25. ISU

26. ISU

27. ISU

28. ISU
Video link 3993

29. ISU
One feeding stall / sow; L pen

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

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

32. ISU Danish recommended stall dimensions
– interior measurements
Housing section Stall Width, cm Length, cm
Service/control
facility with stalls
Standard 60 (23 in) 210 (82 in)
Large 70 (27 in) 210 (82 in)
Gestation facility
with loose housing
Feeding &
resting stall
60 (23 in) 210 (82 in)
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

33. ISU
Housing temperature affects
behavior
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Temperature,
o
C
Sowsoutsidestall,av.%
The higher the temperature inside,
the fewer sows in the free area
Danish Pig Production
Loafing area
Stalls

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

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

36. ISU Sows that need treatment

37. ISU
Legislative requirements
• Always have one free hospital (relief) pen place ready for
use!
• Min. 3.5 m2
(~38 ft2
) unobstructed free area
• Relief pens for more animals → 2.8 m2
(~30 ft2
)
unobstructed free area per animal
• Max. 3 animals per relief pen!
• 2/3 soft bedding
• Cooling and heating possibilities

38. ISU
Recommended design of hospital pens

39. ISU

40. ISU
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!

41. ISU
Questions