Page 9 of articles about facilities-equipment in Articles

From 1977 through 2013 the dressed slaughter weight for barrows and gilts has increased an average of 0.6 kg (1.3 lb) per year.

Improve the piglets' comfort in the fattening rooms without compromising ventilation by placing an insulating material over the pens.

Managing the pig’s environment with the goal of heat removal is an increasing need, especially when pens are more crowded.

A simple system that uses plastic and adhesive tape to prevent the entry of unfiltered air into a barn can also serve as a safe method to prevent inappropriate non-biosecure personnel movement.

The installation of physical barriers at strategic personnel entry points help to define distinct biosecurity areas. This method is commonly used in farms that lack a clear separation between areas with different biosecurity levels.

Many of these tools are difficult to clean and, in many cases, they may be damaged by water, soap, and disinfectants.

In order to avoid that the pigs urinate and defecate in the trough we can place approximately a metre of pipe on the floor parallel to the trough and tightened with two clamps.

It consists in lengthening the towropes of the windows that we want to keep more open.

Keeping the doors always closed with the help of a counterweight

With a water tank above the pregnant sows cages we ensure their water supply.

A simple piece of cigarette paper will help us to evaluate, in an unbiased way, if the surfaces are completely dry after their cleaning and disinfection.

The two main factors that make that certain farms have not been successful adapting to the animal welfare regulations are design and handling/management.

Micro-sprinklers were installed above the windows in order to reduce the temperature in the farrowing rooms in summer.

Use of sows' ear tags for identifying each of the liquid feed valves with their corresponding number.

Medication of the water in the tank in a quick way and without having to go up a ladder, and achieving a good mixing of the product.

In many occasions, the location of the heat lamp very near to the head of the sow can bother her.