Major refurbishment work will be required in the farrowing unit by 2036 in order to comply with the requirements of the amended Animal Welfare and Livestock Management Ordinance. As the duration of confinement is now limited to five days around the time of birth, pens are needed that allow sows freedom of movement whilst keeping piglet losses to a minimum and, at the same time, ensuring the safety and working comfort of animal care staff.
At the Schwarzenau State Farm of the Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture (LfL), trials with various exercise pens began relatively early, focusing on the effects on the sows, piglet losses and the handling of the pens.
Two videos showcase the pens installed at the Schwarzenau State Farm, thereby complementing the two-part guide ‘Focus on Pig Welfare – Alternative Farrowing Systems’. In the videos, Andreas Nüßlein, supervisor of the exercise pen trials, describes the practical experiences with the various pen types at Schwarzenau.