A focus on farrowing systems – exercise pens or free-range farrowing?!

The Animal Welfare Focus Network surveyed farmers about their practical experiences.

In 2021, the Pig Welfare Competence Centre of the Fokus Tierwohl network conducted a survey as part of the technical work of the “Suckling Pig Losses Working Group”. The aim was to collate the practical experience gathered on farms regarding exercise pens and free farrowing, in order to make this available to other farmers and thus support them in meeting the challenges ahead.

You can read the unfiltered responses to the question “What advice would you give to your colleagues to help them make the transition to exercise pens or free farrowing?” here.

Please note: These are individual opinions. They do not fully reflect the technically coordinated content from the ‘Suckling Pig Losses’ working group. When interpreting the responses, it should also be borne in mind that every farm has a different background and its own philosophy of farm management, meaning that individual statements may also contradict one another.

Feedback from the field on exercise pens

'Before the renovation

be sure to include sample entries.'

'Give it a go first, before you go and convert the whole stable.

The conversion is difficult!'

'You have to give it a go

and not view every setback as proof that the system is flawed. Stick with it and gain experience. Once you’ve got the hang of it, this system offers plenty of opportunities and benefits. It’s important to handle the flock calmly!'

'First of all

gain experience with just a few bays.'

'Large litter of piglets,

Quick-fix sow pens, joint-friendly flooring (to prevent abrasions), open drinking troughs get soiled by faeces; piglet nest heating would be a good idea.'

'Colleagues should contact other farm colleagues

who already use exercise pens, form their own opinions and find out which pen is best for them.'

'Don't be afraid!

'A lockable piglet pen is very handy, as it means you don’t have to catch the piglets from the pen along with the sow.

In addition, the sow can be ‘temporarily’ restrained for treatments on either the sow or the piglets. We have installed a feed-at-will system to ensure the sow remains calm and only eats when she is not suckling, and ideally when the piglets are in the nest, to minimise the risk of crushing. The pen layout and geometry are very important, as is stability.'

'You have to give it a bit of time,

because then handling becomes easier and easier, and you’ll notice that the sows feel very much at home there. This is also reflected in the piglets’ weights.'

'Make sure the piglet nest is large enough

Reducing the size of the farrowing pen helps to minimise the risk of piglets becoming separated from their mothers. When planning, set aside your usual ideas about pen layout, as exercise pens present a whole new set of challenges. Quick, easy and safe opening and closing is one of the most important criteria. There is no one-size-fits-all pen! The decision is specific to each farm, as not every farm faces the same issues in exercise pens (a lot or a little assistance with farrowing/treatments/feeding etc.).'

'6.5 m² is better.

Simple and secure fastenings are important. Align the sow parallel to the aisle.'

'Take manure management (manure removal) into account.

Choose the farrowing pen first, then plan the outer structure.'

'Great for the sow,

but involves significantly more work. Trapezoidal pens are far better than square ones. Every sow farmer prefers a different layout.'

'Choosing the right boat floor is essential:

It must be suitable for sows and piglets, be slip-resistant and sufficiently perforated, and have adequate load-bearing capacity. Fully enclosed floors can increase the workload, in some cases dramatically (daily cleaning and, above all, final cleaning!).'

'Try it out on a few bays first.

The more experience you have, the better it goes. It takes 3–4 attempts before everything works out as you’d like.'

'When planning, pay close attention to the locking mechanism of the box stands.

For farrowing crates in the aisle, install a central lifting mechanism for the farrowing crate cover. Where possible, build a cool or temperature-controlled barn. Walkways are long, so careful planning is essential. Sows want to be able to see into the pen, so avoid housing them with the trough against the wall, as the sows will then turn round and soil the trough.'

'The stable environment is extremely important.'

'Nasal ventilation is only recommended to a limited extent,

as draughts can quickly build up in the farrowing pen due to thermal currents. It is better to position the pens parallel to the aisle or next to the trough along the aisle. Pay close attention to the farrowing pen.'

'‘We rebuilt our stock two years ago.

The sows were not used to any other type of pen. I don’t think this led to any significant losses due to crushing. There was no significant difference in suckling piglet losses between conventional pens and exercise pens. The pen is not expected to result in any extra work.'

'Start by trying out a few test bays first to decide which type suits you best.

'Take a look at the systems in use and talk to the farmers who are using them.'

'Make sure you're well informed beforehand.

Think about how you envisage the bay and how you would like it to be arranged. Try out how the bay works.'

'It is important to have a calm sow's temperament.'

'Set your own priorities and gain practical experience.'

'You need to assess each flock individually and try out different pens beforehand.'

If you don’t carry out enough trials and don’t study the animals’ behaviour in depth, you may notice a significant drop in performance due to crushing losses.'

'You need to plan on a case-by-case basis and take many different factors into account.

How do the piglets retreat to the nest when the sow is standing? How many times a day should I feed the sow? Which feeding method is best suited to this? Which breed is best suited to this? We have had good results with this approach and have reduced crushing losses by feeding the sows just twice a day until around the 15th day of lactation, rather than feeding them several times in succession in smaller portions as originally planned. This prevents the sows from lying down more often and potentially crushing the piglets.'

'Quiet sow housing. Open design. No full-perforation flooring, no plastic flooring.

Fully equipped air conditioning, perforated ceiling with cooling system. No full basement.'

‘It is important to have the best possible access to the piglets when the protective cage is open.’

'Mix fine and long straw (for absorbency and as a building material).

Duroc crosses are livelier; with them, the basket can be opened earlier than with conventional crosses between German Landrace and Pietrain.'

'Every farmer should visit several piggeries,

because everyone values different things. Having built our Susi Bay, we now know what we want and what we don't want.'

'The courage to adjust the waiting area

Then the relationship with the animal can improve and the farrowing pen will run more smoothly.'

'Make the compartments large enough. Fit storage aids or brackets to the side walls.

Enough space for the piglets. Space for supplementary feeding of the piglets outside the sow area."'

'Take your time when choosing the right exercise pen.'

'Stable design: roof = ceiling.

Include the advantages of a conventional pen, e.g. that the sow can be attended to from three sides. Air-cooling. No fixed flooring (except for the farrowing pen). Pens that are easy to open.'

'Not too much solid ground in the bay'

'Everyone should visit several businesses beforehand and then choose the right option.

There isn’t a single pen that suits all farms and sows.'

'Note the sow’s position: trough in the passageway or against the wall.

Which is more important: feed monitoring or birth monitoring? In the case of solid flooring, ensure that the trough (and possibly the drinker) can be emptied via slats. The piglet trough should be located in the care corridor, as every trip into the pen disturbs the animals or is carried out reluctantly. It should be possible to easily confine the sow for vaccination or other procedures, or to keep her ‘in check’ using an FSK side panel (in an emergency). Mucking out: Slats in the manure area should be easy to muck out; where possible, avoid stepping directly into the exercise area.'

‘Be open to new ideas. Make use of tried-and-tested systems from neighbouring countries.’

'It is handy to be able to restrain the sow from outside in just a few simple steps.

When providing pens, ensure there is sufficient space behind the sow for any necessary assistance during farrowing. A sufficiently large piglet nest with the option of temporarily confining all piglets there. Mother-and-piglet feeding trough. Piglet trough for supplementary feeding and, if necessary, a bowl for milk or prestarter out of the sow’s reach (otherwise, on slatted flooring, the sow may pry up the floor panel, causing both sow and piglets to fall into the slurry channel).'

'Allow for extra time and effort for care. The design of the piglet pen is important (to prevent crushing).'

'Plan ahead

(The adjustment of bay sizes has not yet been finalised)'

‘Find out what others think before you buy.’

Real-world accounts of free farrowing

'Don't skimp on space.

The nest has to be top-notch. As few mechanical parts as possible.'

'Breeding animals must have a (not too large) nesting box from a young age,

that they keep the area clean, so that this also works reliably in the farrowing pen. Maternal instinct is the most important factor in ensuring that the sows ‘look after themselves’. A friendly disposition and good socialisation with humans are important so that you can still carry out your duties in the pen.'

'Have the courage to ask others.

Don’t be afraid of mother sows. Gain experience by using individual pens. Further considerations: How can I create structure or distinct areas within a pen? How can I introduce temperature variations within the barn?'

'The bays should be largely unspoilt.

It is important to have a manure removal system that allows the liquid to drain away quickly. It is also important to have a way of keeping the sow 'securely' out of the way for a short time.'

'Use calm sow breeds. Use foster sows so that there are fewer piglets per sow.

Our own breeding stock, and when selecting sows, pay attention to their behaviour in the farrowing pen.'

'Genetics are crucial. Breeding companies still need to improve significantly in this area.

Everyone needs to find a bay that suits them, as there’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation. So give it a go!'

'An indoor pen, as a lot of straw needs to be put in the pen during farrowing.

The floor there is made of Stalite to improve the sows' stability. Drainage pipes are fitted to the wall so that piglets can move out of the way. After birth, piglets should be kept in the farrowing pen for one hour, as otherwise they find it very difficult to locate the heat source.'

'Select only sows with good maternal qualities for free farrowing!'

'Optimise local conditions.'

'Visit the facilities beforehand and choose the system that best suits your needs.'

'Keep away from draughts. Ensure the floor is non-slip and handle the animals gently.

Max. 15 live-born piglets. Sows with short frames.'

'Visit lots of businesses.'

'Always combine free farrowing with access to outdoor exercise areas and the outdoor environment.

For health and safety reasons, always move the sow’s feeding area outdoors. Do not make the farrowing pen too large in the early stages – ensure it can be enlarged if necessary.'

'It must be possible to restrain the sow in the pen!'

‘Only recommended for absolute pros.’

‘The sow is one of the biggest factors here.

She must have sufficient maternal instincts and, at the same time, a gentle disposition. Litters with a small number of piglets are preferable. Piglet losses can certainly be reduced to some extent, but they cannot be completely avoided.'

‘Be brave and give it a go.’

‘Just trust the animals to know what they're doing.’

‘Give significant weight to considerations regarding your own work routine and do not rule out ideas from other areas of animal husbandry.’(Kopie 1)

‘Let's switch to someone who can do the job!’

'Don't make the bay too small.

If possible, use hay or similar material to keep them occupied. This also helps to keep them full. But only use good-quality hay. No need for slatted flooring with fixing points or various adjustment options. A trough for both piglets and sows to share.'

‘Take time to observe the sows. Which sows are “maternal” and interact well with humans?’

‘Animal spotting!’

'We initially restrained the sow during farrowing because we were worried about high mortality rates due to crushing.

In hindsight, however, that was rather counterproductive. We now always use free farrowing, and it works very well. It’s also important to have a good boar, so that large, healthy piglets are born who can quickly find the teats and the farrowing pen.'

"Do at least one “work placement” in a company.

A well-run free-range farrowing pen is very expensive to run and involves a great deal of work. The higher crushing losses that are often cited are not due to the system itself, but to the change in system.'

'I pay particular attention to the temperament of the sows.

Calm sows with good maternal instincts are the key to this farming system.'

'Ensure that the bay walls and fixings are tall and secure enough.

When selecting sows, look for a docile temperament, including towards humans. When breeding from your own stock, include nest-building behaviour and lying behaviour in your assessment. A very good relationship with the herd and regular physical contact (e.g. stroking the head) makes work much easier, particularly during farrowing. If I am not perceived as a threat, the sow’s stress levels are lower. If my touch is perceived as pleasant, this makes tasks such as udder examinations much easier.'

‘There are difficulties involved in handling sows with piglets (inserting ear tags, castrating the piglets).’

‘Spacious bays.’

'Pen hygiene is important. Choose sows carefully.

Handle sows gently. Install pens that meet the latest scientific standards.’

Further topics Animal welfare pig