Alternative farrowing accommodation in piggeries

Commercially viable alternatives to farrowing crates are available.

The simplest style that may be used in free range individual farrowing shelters, or indoor pens, is a rail inside the wall around the sow area – 22.5cm from the wall and the same height from the floor. This provides an escape area for the piglets when the sow lies down. There may be a gate across a corner for a piglet creep area with bedding.

Variations to traditional crate systems

Accommodation options that allow sows to move without crushing their piglets include:

• crates with a hydraulic system allowing sides to move under the sow's body pressure when she slides down to lying
• crates where the centre of the floor can rise and fall depending on the sow's posture, allowing piglets to fall away from the moving sow
• ellipsoid (oval-shaped) crates that allow sows to turn
• the 'VIP mushroom system' where sows can move, but must lie down around a pattern of plastic mushroom-shaped obstacles attached to the floor.

These alternatives can take up more space than traditional crates.

Alternatives to crate systems

Sow pens

Sow pens allow freedom of movement for the sow. There is some added risk of piglet mortality; however, this is often offset by better mothering activity in pens. If you decide to follow this design you should allocate more space than parallel farrowing crates.

• Kennel and run systems use bedding of straw or paper, backing on to a run with a slatted or solid floor (this may be an outside ‘verandah’ area in Queensland) and with a separate creep area. Learn more about constructing kennels for piglets in our guide on piggery cooling and heating systems.
• Werribee pens consist of a nesting area for sow and piglets and a utility area for dunging, feeding and drinking.
• Turn-around pens allow the sow to turn around while the piglets are protected on either side of the pen.
• Sloped farrowing pen floors have a gradient of 14°. At the bottom of the incline there is a protected area for piglets.

Group housing

In group housing, sows are given free access to individual nest sites. Common areas are used for dunging, and drinkers and feeders are shared.

A disadvantage of this option is that aggressive behavior by sows can damage piglets, and animal management may be more difficult. However, continued selection for reduced aggression can help reduce the problem in these systems.

Vastgomodel systems

In Vastgomodel systems, sows give birth in a farrowing area that includes at least 7.5m² of deep litter per sow.

These Swedish experimental systems have been trialed with success:

• Ljungstrom – sows give birth in deep litter pens (5m² more) in a farrowing room. Sows and litters are later transferred to a deep-littler nursing room when the piglets are about 2 weeks old.
• Thorstensson – sows are brought into a deep litter nursing area a few days before farrowing. The nursing room has wooden farrowing cubicles (5.5–6m² or more) with rollers at the entrance to help keep the piglets in the box while allowing sows to enter and exit.