For most of us, housing sows individually is a familiar system. Individual pens have been used to make many processes more manageable, including vaccinations, pregnancy and heat checks, and feeding, just to name a few. With recent market pressures, more and more producers are interested in pen gestation for their sow barns.
What is pen gestation?
Pen gestation is just the term used to describe the loose housing of sows. This setup allows them to move around more freely and interact with other animals, as sows are social animals. While they will fight to establish a hierarchy, they interact reasonably smoothly once they determine who is in charge.
An electronic feeding system is an efficient way to feed sows in pen gestation.
Gone are the days of pouring feed out and hoping everyone gets their share. Today, we have access to tools that can help us ensure each sow gets exactly the ration she needs. An electronic feeding system, such as AP’s Gestation Sow Feeder (GSF), allows us to do just that. Here are just a few advantages of using an electronic feeding system in pen gestation.
A calmer herd
The sows don’t associate people with feeding, so they don’t get overexcited or aggressive when they see a worker enter. An electronic system helps the herd stay calm while eating instead of competing for food.
A more open barn
By using a gestation sow feeder, producers can eliminate the need for feed drops every two feet, making the pen easier to navigate for workers and animals.
Increased efficiency
By using a computerized feeding system, producers can see data on who’s eating, drinking, and how much is consumed, keeping a better eye on herd health and efficiency.
So, what should you look for when choosing the right electronic feeding system for your sows in pen gestation?
There are many options out there for feeding your sows electronically. Here are some of the critical attributes your setup should have.
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