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Sow management
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Sow management Modern housing and feeding systems

Successful sow management with the right equipment Achieving a high number of weaned and vital piglets per sow is the goal of every sow manager. By supplying the ideal housing and feeding systems, Big Dutchman can provide the technical prerequisites needed to do so, because in modern sow management, the correct equipment plays an important role for economic success. This brochure will present the Big Dutchman product range for three areas: nsemination I estation G arrowing F Whether you are planning a new house or a renovation, the Big Dutchman experts will work with you to develop the...

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BD Space is a sow stall that can be used in the insemination area and in the gestation area. It is available with lengths of 1800, 2200, 2300 and 2400 mm, and widths of 600, 650, 700 and 750 mm. Apart from the version with rear door, Big Dutchman also offers BD Space with an additional front door. This is a benefit for the sows because they do not have to back out when leaving the stall. BD Space stall with rear door and additional front door The advantage of the free-access stall BD is that the sows can leave this stall independently, moving around in the group as they like. For...

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For artificial insemination and easy heat checks, it is helpful when the service crates are directly connected to the sow arena. During insemination, the sows can then be restrained for a short period. Distances are short and staff have a good overview. Boars can help stimulate the sows in a boar aisle in front of the service crates to induce a heat that is as intensive as possible. Service crates directly connected to the sow arena Separate boar pens Service crates with front door Gestation area Modern housing systems for pregnant sows After the sows have been inseminated and their...

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2. Group housing with the free-access stall BD The free-access stall BD, developed by Big Dutchman, provides sows with the advantages of welfare-friendly group housing and the farm staff with optimal working conditions. It can be used in the insemination area and in gestation houses. The sows can move around freely in the group but receive their feed in stalls. Every sow, therefore, has her own feeding space where she can eat without being disturbed. These stalls are entirely free access, with the sow locking herself in and releasing herself from the stall at any time. The stall cannot be...

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3. CallBackpro: electronic sow feeding meets free-access stall The CallBackpro feeding system unites the advantages of managing sows in free-access stalls with those of an electronic sow feeding (ESF) system. Similar to an ESF system, the sows are identified by an RFID ear tag to allow for individual feeding in the free-access stall. All feeding data are logged automatically; deviations generate an alarm. Up to 20 sows share one station, i.e. the group size can be changed in steps of 20. This means that only the number of feeding spaces needs to be adjusted. The sows easily learn how to use...

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4. CallMatic3pro: computer-controlled sow feeding on demand CallMatic3pro is an innovative feeding system for pregnant sows kept in large groups. It ideally combines the advantages of animalfriendly housing and a feeding method specially adapted to the requirements of individual sows. Individual, computer-controlled feeding means that the supplied feed and thus the nutrients are precisely adjusted to the sow’s condition. This method of feeding saves resources and is well suited to new and renovated houses with partially slatted floors or with straw bedding. A separate leaflet about...

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Farrowing area Farrowing crate, piglet nest with heated lying area, feeding system and slats Farrowing pens must provide ideal conditions both for the sow and for the piglets during their first weeks of life. Big Dutchman has a wide range of products available for this purpose, from standard pens to variablerestraint pens, from free farrowing to group housing systems. The penning system is very flexible because its length is nearly freely selectable. This means that any desired pen design can be achieved. The partition of the pen can be 500 mm or 600 mm high. Both liquid feeding and dry...

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Our second standard farrowing pen comes with BD Swing, which is available in lengths of 2200 mm and 2300 mm. A drive-out at the front can be selected as an option. The trough is available as a fixed or a tiltable version. Heating plates in the creeps ensure the piglets’ well-being. Cast iron slats are installed for the area underneath the sow. BD Swing with cast iron slat beneath the sow and heated piglet nest Tiltable trough for thorough cleaning Big Dutchman can offer different covers for the piglets’ creep area. The front part of opening can be closed off with a sealing cap when the lamp...

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2. Variable-restraint pen with farrowing frame: ActiWel With ActiWel, Big Dutchman has developed a variable-restraint pen that provides ideal conditions and plenty of room for the sow and her piglets in their first weeks of life. The pen consists of a farrowing frame, a heated resting area for the piglets, the flooring and the pen partition. Arrangement of the farrowing frame can be either parallel to the aisle or at right angles to it, with the sow’s head against the wall. The low partitions permit a good overview of the room and easy access to the pen. ActiWel with open farrowing frame:...

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3. Group housing of sows in the farrowing area Under the name Agilo, Big Dutchman offers three new group housing systems for lactating sows: gilo HL A gilo FB A gilo RS A An important feature of all three systems is the large amount of space they offer for sows and piglets. In the service centre and gestation area, sows are already often kept in groups. But for lactating sows, group housing is much less common. This is mostly due to the fact that the requirements regarding animal manage ment and monitoring of such concepts are higher. These requirements are compen ated s for by the...

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