Monday, February 25, 2013

New training station teaches sows to use a demand feeding system


    The SowComp training station teaches sows to reach the trough by passing through a narrow passage. The WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp’s new model works with open doors so animals get used to taking up their feed in a demand feeding station in a fast, uncomplicated and stress-free way.
    To simulate real operating conditions of the later demand feeding station, the unit is equipped with a double-flap iron-barred exit gate. This prevents pigs entering in the wrong direction.
    As a rule, the training station is installed far away from the herd of sows, in the quarantine division. It is recommended to split up the gilts to be trained into groups of 15 to 20 animals. After a training period of approximately two weeks, the sows are conditioned and know exactly how a demand feeding station functions.
    After this, they can be transferred into the proper waiting area. As the animals are now used to walking along a passage for taking up their feed, their shying away from automatic demand feeding stations is practically non-existent now.

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