3.1 Buchtenelemente Buchtenwände - Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl

	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

Bay elements

3.1 Bay walls

Various designs are possible for pen walls (Figs. 22–27):

Fully high, closed pen walls. Caution: The animals are likely to be more easily startled! During farrowing, however, the undisturbed area has a positive effect. For staff, it is often difficult to maintain an overview during animal checks (neighbouring pens cannot be seen).²⁵
lower section of the wall (e.g. approx. 50 cm) closed, with an open section above, i.e. with crossbars only
- A division into closed and open areas allows the sow to make snout-to-snout and visual contact with other sows, and encourages the establishment of a dunging area.
Closed walls in the lying area (possibly with a partition) and open in the dunging area
- Although visual contact is generally considered positive, if sows have visual contact with neighbouring sows in all or many places, their defecation behaviour can no longer be influenced by the design of the pen walls.¹⁴
Low entrance Caution: During extended suckling periods, piglets must not be able to climb over it!
- This facilitates good piglet monitoring and easy inspection of the piglet nest.
Lower walls facing the management aisle
- They are helpful for a clear overview for animal care.

Figure 22:

Farrowing pen with a closed wall section at the bottom and an open section above with crossbars (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

Figure 23:

Farrowing pen with low walls facing the management corridor (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

Figure 24:

Farrowing pen with high, enclosed side walls (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

Figure 25:

The lower part of the pen wall is closed. The open section at the sow’s head height allows contact with the neighbouring pen. (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

Figure 26:

The lower part of the pen wall is closed. The open section at the sow’s head height allows contact with the neighbouring pen. The low pen wall facing the aisle is easy to climb over when the sow stall is closed. (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture)

Figure 27:

The lower part of the pen wall is closed. The open section at the sow’s head height allows contact with the neighbouring pen. (Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture)

Practical experience
"Pigs can easily climb over the partitions to the corridor; higher, sturdy walls in the sow area"

< Previous page Next page >

Table of Contents