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Because of welfare considerations many EU countries have introduced legislation which increases the area of solid flooring in pens. This has caused producers with fully slatted floors considerable problems, as relaying flooring is very expensive . Fully slatted floors are banned in Denmark and new regulations which came into being in January 2013 mean that producers will have to increase the proportion of solid flooring in pens.
However, a Danish injection moulder, Brian Johannsen, based in south west Denmark has come up with a very clever invention to convert slatted floors into solid areas. His gap cover incorporates an ingenious locking mechanism, shaped like an arrow head. The plastic covers ( patent pending) are easily inserted between the slats by using a rubber mallet - or by simply stamping on them - and once in place are practically impossible to remove and are essentially pig –proof. Denmark’s VSP (Danish Pig Research Centre) tested the cover on a farm in Fyn and VSP staff were surprised by the simplicity of the design , secondly by the ease of fitting and thirdly by the ingenious locking mechanism.
By filling the gaps between slats, draughts are reduced which improves pig comfort. Filling the gaps also increases the amount of solid floor area, which pigs prefer to lie on,again improving pig welfare.
The cover was initially produced to be used in slatted areas with 18-22mm gaps; however Johannsen’s company, Brian Johannsen Design (BJD) also manufactures one to fit 15-17mm gaps, with both widths generally being sold in 4metre lengths for ease of transportation.
( Although one UK customer has been supplied with 25cm long strips). Depending on length, the covers cost between 4-4.5 euros / metre,excluding transport costs.
As well as being used to reduce slatted areas the covers - which are smooth or have a ribbed surface - can be used in high traffic areas such as in front of feeders to protect the edges of the slats plus they stop feed dropping into the slurry pits. Danish veterinary specialist Pia Conradsen also recommends fitting the covers under nipple drinkers as drinking water containing weak acid can in time start to erode the slats, especially the slat edges. “Liquid feed often contains whey - this is acidic and the covers can protect slats fitted next to the troughs from erosion”.
BPEX in the UK has expressed interest in the covers and in fact several metres were rapidly shipped by export agent Julian Smith to a producer in south west England who had to reduce the slatted area in his weaner house in order to comply with UK assurance regulations.The covers have now been fitted and the producer is now compliant, much to his relief.
According to Smith, enquiries are coming in from Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.”Spain has massive numbers of pigs and I am sure we could sell substantial quantities there, in due course”.
April 7, 2014 - Brian Johannsen Design
