3.3 Buchtenelemente Trog & Tränke - 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

3.3 Feeding troughs/water troughs for sows and piglets

Figure 38: Sows’ feeding trough in the pen
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, DLG e.V.)

Figure 39: Orientation of the sow’s trough towards the passageway
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, DLG e.V.)

Placing the feed trough and water trough in the slatted area can help to define the lying and dunging areas, as defecation often occurs after feeding.²³

Good access to the trough and drinking trough is important for both the animals and the animal caretaker. To facilitate monitoring and cleaning, it is recommended that the trough and drinking trough be positioned facing the care aisle (Figs. 38 and 39). Consequently, the sow’s head faces the aisle.

Figure 40: The sow cannot reach the piglet trough.
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, DLG e.V.)

Figure 41: The sow cannot reach the piglet trough.
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, DLG e.V.)

Additional feed troughs and milk cups for the piglets should also be easily accessible to both humans and piglets, but not to the sow (Figs. 40 and 41).

Figure 42: Mother-and-calf drinking trough mounted above a slatted floor
(Photo: M Lechner)

The mother-and-piglet drinker has proven effective for piglet water intake (Fig. 42). To keep the drinker as clean as possible and the surrounding area dry, drinkers are preferably installed above slats so that water can drain away. This also means that the drinker should not be positioned too close to the piglet nest. In piglet nurseries – i.e. where piglets remain in the farrowing pen after weaning – attention must be paid to the number and height of the drinkers, with the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TierSchNutztV) stipulating a maximum of 12 piglets per drinker for weaned piglets. As with sows, good hygiene must be maintained with regard to piglet drinkers. Dirty drinkers can become a breeding ground for germs and should therefore be cleaned regularly.

Open drinking troughs become dirty more easily in sows fed on a liquid diet than in those fed on a dry diet.

Therefore, care must be taken to ensure they are positioned at a sufficient distance from the liquid feed.

Figure 43: An automatic drinking system recessed into the pen wall allows piglets from two pens to drink.
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

Figure 44: Mobile drinking trough with electrolyte solution
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

If there is sufficient milk available, piglets often pay little attention to drinking troughs during the first 14 days of suckling. For this reason, it is important from a hygiene perspective to connect the troughs to ring lines rather than branch lines.

Furthermore, water, electrolyte solution or milk can be provided via bowls or cups (Figs. 43 and 44).

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Bay elements

3.3 Feeding troughs/water troughs for sows and piglets