3.4 Buchtenelemente Ferkelschutzkorb - 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

3.4 Piglet protection cage

Figure 45: The swivelling grille allows for short-term restraint. The sow does not have access to the trough or drinking trough whilst restrained.
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture)

Figure 46: Bay from Fig. 45 with the restraint mechanism open
(Image: Animal Welfare Network, North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture)

Opening and closing the piglet protection cage must be simple, safe and quick to carry out.⁸ For health and safety reasons, it should be possible to avoid entering the sow’s living area where possible (Videos 7 and 8). The movable part of the piglet protection cage or, in the case of free farrowing, an existing short-term restraint device can serve as a protective barrier between the sow and the animal caretaker.

In free farrowing systems, a means of temporarily restraining the sow (Figs. 45 and 46) is advisable, provided the sow cannot, for example, be separated into the exercise area. This allows the animal caretaker to safely carry out tasks such as piglet handling, mucking out or treating the sow.

Real-world experience

"Quick, easy and safe opening and closing is one of the most important criteria"
"It should be possible to easily confine the sow for vaccination or other tasks, or to keep her 'in check' using a side panel of the piglet protection cage (in an emergency)"
"It is practical to be able to restrain the sow in just a few simple steps from outside (the sow’s area of activity)"
"Having a way to lock the sow away 'safely' for a short time"

Video 6: Closing the farrowing crate in just a few simple steps from the piglet area.

Video 7: Closing the farrowing crate in just a few simple steps; only one part needs to be secured. A protective grille is positioned between the person and the sow.

< Previous page Next page >

Table of Contents

Bay elements

3.4 Piglet protection cage

Real-world experience