The design and management of mating centres have become increasingly important in recent years. A network of demonstration farms was already working on mating centres as part of the model and demonstration projects (MuD) on animal welfare. Under the working title "Improvement and enrichment of the housing environment for pregnant sows" (https://www.mud-tierschutz.de/mud-tierschutz/netzwerke-demonstrationsbetriebe/netzwerke-schwein/netzwerk-8/), various measures were implemented in the participating farms.

At the online network meeting on 22 April, representatives from two of these farms gave illustrated presentations explaining the changes they had made to their mating centres and the advantages and disadvantages of these changes.

In his presentation, Jürgen Langreder outlined the changes made to the breeding centre as well as the waiting area.

• A new barn was built for the mating and waiting areas.
• The breeding centre was equipped with an outdoor climate area. This is partly equipped with slatted flooring and partly with rubber mats. Straw pellets are spread (automatically) on the rubber mats every day.
• The transitions from the outdoor climate area to the barn were equipped with "saloon doors". However, during the first winter, it became clear that cold draughts were entering the barn through these doors. If necessary, this may need to be improved.
• The feeding boxes in the mating centre are covered with flat flooring over a length of 1.20 m.
  There is the option of fixing the animals in place.
• When moving from the weaning area to the mating area, the sows can initially move around freely. If there are any fights, the animals can retreat to the boxes.

Overall, the following measures were carried out in the mating centre and waiting pen:

Following Jürgen Langreder's presentation, there was an interesting exchange among the participants about their experiences with short-term mating centres at other farms. During the discussion, suggestions were made on how to better protect the entrances to the outdoor climate area from draughts. The installation of perforated sheets or windbreak nets (curtains) could, for example, help to prevent cold air from entering the lying area. It would also be conceivable to shield the lying area from the outside with straw bales during the winter months.

For the operation of the Federal Hybrid Breeding Programme (BHZP), where Elisabeth Gerstenkorn is the farm manager, the situation in the breeding centre is as follows:

A short-term mating centre is already in operation. Self-catching pens or feeding pens have been installed in the respective barn buildings. Straw or sawdust is used as bedding material. Management in the short-term mating centre is as follows:

• The sows are kept in the insemination stand for 3 to 4 days.
• A distinction is made between 2 groups of sows (young and old sows).
• No differentiation is made between condition groups.

The following results can be derived from this so far:

• The pregnancy rates have not changed.
• Currently, the sows are moved on the 15th to 17th day of pregnancy.
• Self-catching pens are more suitable for sows.
• Checking for return to oestrus is more time-consuming.
• Loss days per litter may be higher.

The comments made by the two farm managers clearly show that it is entirely possible to keep sows in the mating centre for just a few days and otherwise allow the animals more freedom of movement.