3.6.2 Ferkelnest Position - 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

3.6 Piglet nest

3.6.2 Position

Figure 49: Placing the piglet nest in the aisle makes it easy to monitor the animals, particularly in the case of covered piglet nests
(Image: Netzwerk Fokus Tierwohl, FiBL Deutschland e.V.)

When positioning the piglet nest, it is important to take into account not only the operational considerations that suggest placing it near the feeding aisle (Fig. 49), but above all the animals’ needs, in order to prevent piglet losses.

The piglet nest should therefore be positioned close by, ideally to the side of the sow’s lying area, so that the distance (from the teats to the nest) is as short as possible for the young piglets. Newborn piglets, which would otherwise be unable to find their way to the warming piglet nest in the spacious exercise pens, either settle down in the danger zone (risk of being rolled over) near the sow or become chilled on the pen floor.^{8, 32}

However, due to the heat radiating from the heated piglet nest, it should not be positioned too close to the sow’s lying area within the exercise pen, so that the sow does not suffer from heat stress whilst confined.

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Table of Contents

Bay elements

3.6 Piglet nest

3.6.2 Position