Focus on Pig Welfare – Alternative farrowing systems

Part 1: Exercise pens and pens for free farrowing

^{As of April 2024}

Go to the guide ‘Pig Welfare in Focus – Alternative Farrowing Systems, Part II: Putting the Animal at the Centre of Attention’

Watch the videos on exercise pens at the Schwarzenau State Farm

Philip Franz, farmer, Agrarprodukte Bernsgrün-Hohndorf eG (pioneer farm for animal welfare)
Dr. Daniel Gieseke, University of Kassel
Prof. Isabel Hennig-Pauka, Foundation of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
Dr. Heiko Janssen, Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture
Katja Menzer, Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology
Wilhelm Schulte-Remmert, farmer (Animal Welfare Pilot Farm)

● Dr. Sabine Schütze, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture
● Laura Schönberg, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture

Marc-Andre Kruse-Friedrich, DLG e.V.
Marc Schneeweis, medianet Electronic Communication & Marketing GmbH
Oliver Sahner, medianet Electronic Communication & Marketing GmbH

Funding note:
This document was produced as part of the collaborative project ‘Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl’, funding codes 28N-4-013-01 to 28N-4-013-17, by the ‘Suckling Pig Losses’ working group of the Animal Welfare Competence Centre for Pigs, and methodologically and didactically adapted
by DLG e.V. and FiBL Deutschland e.V. The joint project of the Chambers of Agriculture and agricultural institutions across all federal states aims to improve the transfer of knowledge into practice in order to make cattle, pig and poultry farms fit for the future in terms of animal-welfare-friendly, environmentally sound and sustainable livestock farming.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture pursuant to a resolution of the German Bundestag.

All information and advice is provided without any warranty or liability.

Publisher

DLG e.V. Agricultural
Centre
Eschborner Landstraße 122
60489 Frankfurt am Main

FiBL Deutschland e.V. Animal Welfare
Division
Kasseler Straße 1a
60486 Frankfurt am Main

As of: 01/2023
© 2023

Reproduction and transmission of individual text sections, drawings or images (including for the purpose of lesson planning), as well as the provision of the information sheet in whole or in part for viewing or download by third parties, is permitted only with the prior approval of the relevant department of the Animal Welfare Competence Centre and DLG e.V., Marketing Division, Tel. +49 69 24788-209, [email protected]

	Foreword
1	Introduction
2	Farrowing pen
2.1	Farrowing pen – size
2.2	Farrowing pen – layout
2.3	Farrowing pen – floor design
2.3.1	Farrowing pen – Floor design: Lying comfort for the sow
2.3.2	Farrowing pen – Floor design: Slip resistance
2.4	Farrowing pen – Pen structure
2.5	Farrowing pen – Run-out area
3	Pen components
3.1	Pen elements – pen walls
3.2	Bay elements – Storage aids
3.3	Pen elements – troughs/drinking troughs for sows and piglets
3.4	Pen components – Piglet protection cage
3.5	Pen components – Cover for sow resting area
3.6	Pen components – Piglet nest
3.6.1	Pen elements – piglet nest: size and floor design
3.6.2	Pen elements – piglet nest: Position
3.6.3	Pen elements – piglet nest: Covering/walls
3.6.4	Pen elements – Piglet nest: Temperature in piglet nest
3.6.5	Pen elements – piglet nest: Piglet nest temperature control
3.6.6	Pen elements – piglet nest: Heat source
3.6.7	Pen elements – piglet nest: Heating the piglet nest
3.6.8	Pen elements – Piglet nest: Lighting
4.1	Organic material – enrichment material
4.2	Organic material – Manure removal and slurry technology
5.1	Climate – Creation of climate zones
5.2	Climate – Temperature regulation
6	Cleaning and Disinfection
	Bibliography

Brochure

Brochure: Alternative farrowing systems (pdf) 10 MB

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Focus on Pig Welfare – Alternative farrowing systems

Part 1: Exercise pens and pens for free farrowing

Members of the ‘Suckling Pig Losses’ working group

Representatives from the administrative office of the Centre of Excellence for Pig Welfare

Online guide: Concept development, technical implementation & editorial content

Funding information

Table of Contents

Brochure