No tail docking, bay structure, outdoor climate barn
Network meeting of the pig industry's leading companies in Baden-Württemberg
Twenty-one people from a total of nine impulse farms in the Hohenlohe region of Baden-Württemberg attended the face-to-face meeting of the impulse farms. Markus Wilhelm from Mulfingen-Hohenrot hosted the network meeting. In addition to the farm managers, a representative of the DLG, two animal welfare multipliers (from LAZBW Boxberg) and two veterinarians (livestock care) also took part in the meeting.
As is customary at network meetings, a collegial exchange took place on the afternoon of the first day. At Jens-Walter Bohnenkamp's farm, the use of straw in various forms is being tested. Straw briquettes are used in some cases, which are offered via hay racks and are well accepted by the animals. However, in stables with slatted floors, this can mean that the manure no longer drains away as well and therefore has to be stirred at regular intervals. At Reinhard Brunner's farm, which operates in accordance with the requirements of the Organic Farming Regulation, long tails are part of everyday life. The formerly conventional fattening barn was converted so that the animals can use a partially covered outdoor area. Even in cold temperatures, the outdoor area, which is strewn with plenty of straw, is very popular. The rearing of long-tailed piglets on Josef Mertens' farm was already presented to colleagues at the network meeting in May. Josef Mertens is very satisfied with the two huts, each for 40 animals, and has also set them up outdoors in the summer. This enables him to rear long-tailed animals for fattening. Jochen Meyer presented the restructuring of his conventional fattening barn to those present. The original pens were removed in order to offer the animals better separated functional areas in the large pens. An outdoor run for the pigs is in the planning stage. Jonas Niebel's farm keeps 160 sows, followed by piglet rearing and fattening. In recent years, a low-emission barn with a covered outdoor run (outdoor climate stimulus) has been implemented for pig fattening. Ralf Remmert, who has always been keen to try out new things in recent years, presents his sugar-based bags. These make it possible to measure out raw fibre-rich and chunky feed (e.g. whole carrots) for the animals and to dispense it automatically in future.
The exchange between the participants was once again very intensive, constructive and appreciative.
As the current market situation has been very challenging in recent weeks and months, Ralf Remmert had prepared an Excel spreadsheet. He uses this spreadsheet to keep track of costs in his own business. This type of controlling enables him, as the farm manager, to quickly realise when changing production figures lead to changes in contribution margins. When contribution margins fall, it is necessary to consider whether costs can be saved at any point or whether fundamental changes need to be made in the long term. This type of controlling gives farm managers a quick overview of the profitability of animal husbandry. It also helps in arguing to buyers that producer prices need to be adjusted in the case of cost-intensive animal welfare measures.
On the morning of the second day, the Wilhelm family opened their farm, which keeps sows (440 sows) and rears piglets. As part of an EIP project in Baden-Württemberg, farm manager Markus Wilhelm seized the opportunity to rebuild the mating and waiting area. This area was designed for 144 sows. The floor in this area is solid and manure is removed using an above-floor scraper. The animals have access to lying boxes, which can be opened at the top depending on the temperature. The boxes are lined with straw. Above the lying boxes is a walkway where the straw can be stored and thrown into the boxes by hand through hatches.
The farrowing area is currently in the planning stage. The piglet protection crates are still in place, but initial experiments with free farrowing have already been carried out in a "trial pen". The results were such that Markus Wilhelm now feels confident enough to let a larger number of sows farrow freely.
In order to pass on his knowledge in the field of animal husbandry, Markus Wilhelm regularly welcomes first-year students who spend their practical training day at the Wilhelm piglet farm. It is to be hoped that such well-managed animal husbandry will serve as a role model for many young people and that animal husbandry will continue to thrive in Germany in the future.
Author: Gundula Jahn (FiBL Deutschland e.V.)