WO1995012305A1

WO1995012305A1 - Box and stable for breeding pigs

Info

Publication number: WO1995012305A1
Application number: PCT/SE1994/001005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Göran Larsson; Lars Nyman; Gösta Andersson
Original assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
Priority date: 1993-11-02
Filing date: 1994-10-26
Publication date: 1995-05-11
Also published as: NO180401B; FI961865A; AU8119094A; FI103703B1; NO961759D0; SE501972C2; FI961865A0; FI103703B; SE9303642D0; NO180401C; SE9303642L; NO961759L

Abstract

A stable for breeding pigs comprises a pair of identical boxes (1, 2) for two pig litters. Each pig litter stays in one and the same box until the slaughter. The boxes are provided with partition walls (11-14), which are mountable on the boxes in different positions to adjust the boxes to changed needs during the breeding. With the aid of the partition walls the boxes can be made easily available for keepers during farrowing and suckling at the same time as the necessary view into the boxes for surveying the piglets is facilitated.

Description

Pox and stable for breeding pigs

The present invention relates to a box for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered, comprising a circumferential wall defining a breeding space and a separate partition wall mountable on the box in a first position to divide the breeding space into a first com¬ partment intended to house a sow and a second compart¬ ment intended to house piglets, the partition wall being dimensioned such that in said first position it prevents the sow from passing from the first compartment to the second compartment, but enables piglets to pass between the compartments. The invention also relates to a stable, comprising at least one pair of such boxes.

When breeding pigs conventionally in a large scale the pigs are transferred several times during their growth between different boxes, which are particularly adapted to pigs which are in various stages of growth. Thus, a litter of sucking pigs together with their sow usually are transferred from a farrow box after finished farrowing to a suckling box. When the suckling is to cease the piglets are transferred from the sow to a weaning box. Then the piglets are usually transferred to a substantially larger box where they are mixed with other litters of piglets and are allowed to grow to fattening pigs.

During the conventional breeding, the pigs are put under stresses when they are transferred to new unknown sur¬ roundings, are mixed with other unfamiliar pigs and are forced into a large population of pigs. Such stresses give rise to certain inconveniences. Thus, the immunity of the pigs is deteriorated, which increases the desease frequency. Also the injury frequency of the pigs increases. In addition, said stresses affect the pigs so that these will be less able to utilize the feed.

The above mentioned inconveniences can be eliminated if each pig litter is bred in one and the same box until the pigs are to be slaughtered. As a matter of fact, recent research indicates that the gains of such breeding free from transfers and stress can be signi¬ ficant. Thus, it has been proved that the breeding time can be reduced by about 20 %, since the pigs utilize the feed more efficiently. In addition the feeding and suckling of the respective pig litters is easier to optimize, since each litter is homogenous. It has also been verified that the desease frequency and injury frequency decrease.

A problem in connection with breeding of pigs free from transfers is that one and the same box must be capable of fulfilling the exceedingly varying needs arising during different stages of the growth of the pigs, which means that such a box may be too expensive and require too much work for its attendance. For instance, sucking pigs should be warm and feel safe on a relatively limited floor area, whereas fattening pigs demand a substantially larger floor area. In addition, during a period of time the box must be able to accommodate a sow during both farrowing and suckling.

The object of the present invention is to provide a box for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered, which box is relatively cheap and requires relatively little work for its attendance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stable, which comprises at least a pair of such boxes for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered.

These objects are obtained by means of a box of the kind stated initially, which is characterized in that a wall portion of the circumferential wall, extending along said second compartment is low such that a keeper easily can step across said wall portion, but is high enough to prevent at least piglets, which still are sucking, from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion, and that the partition wall is mountable on the box in a second position, in which it is adapted to increase the height of the circumferential wall along said wall portion, so that pigs which have grown such that they no longer are sucking are prevented from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion.

Hereby the advantage is achieved that a keeper will have a better view into the box via said lower wall portion and can make quick decisions if anything needs to be done in the box, which is time-saving, in particular if there are a great number of young pig litters which are to be surveyed. It is of course also an advantage that a keeper easily can step across said wall portion if the keeper carries certain equipment, such as for suckling and inspection of the pigs.

The partition wall is advantageously mountable on the box in a third position, in which it limits the space which is at the pigs disposal in the box, whereby the box can be adapted to the space demands of the pigs before the pigs have grown to fattening pigs. The partition wall is suitably turnable between the first position and the second position, and/or turnable between the first position and the third position. This facilitates a quick rearrangement of the partition wall in the box, when the box is to be adjusted to changed requirements during the breeding.

Said wall portion should be at least 0,5 meter high, in order to prevent sucking piglets of normal size from escaping from the box across said wall portion.

The present invention also relates to a stable for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered, comprising at least one pair of adjacent boxes having a main floor for breeding two litters of pigs, said main floor including a manure floor, said boxes having circumferential walls defining a first breeding space for one pig litter and a second breeding space for the other pig litter and including a common wall for the boxes extending across the manure floor, each box being provided with a separate first partition wall and a separate second partition wall. The first partition wall is mountable on the box in a first position to divide the first breeding space into a first compartment intended to house a sow and a second compartment intended to house piglets, the first partition wall being dimensioned such that in its said first position it prevents the sow from passing from the first compartment to the second compartment but enables the piglets to pass between the compartments. The second partition wall is mountable on the box in a first position to divide the first compartment into a farro¬ wing space for the sow and a manure space into which a part of the manure floor extends, the second partition wall being dimensioned such that in its first position it prevents the sow from passing from the farrowing space to the manure space but enables piglets to pass between said spaces. The stable is characterized in that: a) a wall portion of the circumferential wall of each box extending along said second compartment, is low such that a keeper easily can step across said wall portion, but is high enough to prevent at least piglets, which still are sucking, from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion; b) the first partition wall of each box is mountable on the box in a second position, in which it is adapted to increase the height of the circumferential wall along said wall portion, so that pigs which have grown such that they no longer are sucking, are prevented from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion; c) said common wall at least partly is low such that a keeper easily can step across it, but is high enough to prevent pigs which still are sucking from finding their way across the common wall; and d) the second partition walls of the boxes are mountable on the boxes in second positions, respectively, in which they are adapted to increase the height of the common wall, so that pigs, which have grown such that they still are sucking, and sows, which are in the manure spaces of the boxes, are prevented from finding their way across the common wall.

In case the stable according to the invention is of the kind in which the manure floor is substantially plane and extends at a level above the remaining main floor, so that a flank is formed in each box where the remaining main floor passes into the manure floor, the second partition walls of the boxes in their first positions suitably divide the first compartments such that said flanks in the boxes are located entirely within the manure spaces spaced from the farrowing spaces. Sows which are in the farrowing spaces are hereby prevented from squeezing piglets against said flanks.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

figure 1 shows a stable according to the invention adapted to farrowing an unquiet sow,

figure 2 shows a stable according to the invention adapted to farrowing a quiet sow,

figure 3 shows the stable according to the invention adapted to young sucking piglets,

figure 4 shows a stable according to the invention adapted to piglets, when the sow is removed, and

figure 5 shows the stable according to the invention adapted for fattening pigs.

In figure 1 there is shown a stable according to the invention, which is adapted to farrowing and which comprises a pair of identically designed boxes 1, 2 having a main floor for breeding two pig litters. The stable has two parallel long side walls 3, 4 and two parallel short side walls 5, 6 defining a first breeding space for one pig litter and a second breeding space for the other pig litter. The wa.lls 3-6 consist of concrete and form a rectangular design as seen from above. The main floor includes a substantially plane, rectangular manure floor 7, which is located centrally in the stable and which is provided with slots for receiving manure from the pigs. The boxes 1, 2 have a common wall 8, which extends diagonally across the manure floor 7, so that the pigs in each box 1, 2 will have access to half the manure floor 7.

At the long side wall 3 and 4, respectively, in the box_. 1 and 2, respectively, there is a feeding device 9 and 10, respectively, for feeding of a sow. From the feeding device 9 and 10, respectively, two grid formed elongated partition walls 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively, extend in parallel with each other to the opposite side wall 4 and 3, respectively. The partition walls 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively, in the box 1 and 2, respectively, are dimensioned and located close to each other such that an unquiet sow is kept fixed between them during farrowing without the sow being able to pass the partition walls, whereas piglets are enabled to pass under them.

In case the sows to be farrowed are quiet the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, which is situated closest to the short side wall 5 and 6, respectively, is mounted in the positions shown in figure 2, i.e. so that the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, extends from the feeding device 9 and 10, respectively, to the short side wall 5 and 6, respectively. Hereby quiet sows may have a certain limited freedom of movement between the parti¬ tion walls 11 and 12, and 13 and 14, respectively.

Between the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, and the short side wall 5 and 6, respectively, in the box 1 and 2, respectively, there is formed a compartment 15 and 16, respectively, (a compartment 15a and 16a, respectively, when the partition wall 11 and 13, respec¬ tively, is mounted in the position shown in figure 2), in which piglets can be kept protected from the sow. The compartment 15 and 16, respectively, (alternatively the compartment 15a and 16a, respectively) is provided with a heating lamp 17 and 18, respectively. A wall portion 19 and 20, respectively, of the short side wall 5 and 6, respectively, is only 0,5 meter high, which facilitates the view into the compartment 15 and 16, respectively, and makes it easy for a keeper to step across the wall portion 19 and 20, respectively, with equipment for suckling and inspection of the piglets. The wall portion 19 and 20, respectively, is however high enough to prevent at least piglets which still are sucking, from escaping from the box 1 and 2, respectively, across the wall portion 19 and 20, respectively. The remaining portions of the short side walls 5 and 6 and the long side walls 3 and 4 are 1,05 meter high, as measured from the main floor of the stable. Also the wall 8 is only 0,5 meter high, which facilitates for a keeper to pass between the boxes 1 and 2 during the farrowing.

For the comfort and well being of the pigs, bedding straw is spread in the boxes, however not on the manure floor 7, because the bedding straw may clog the slots of the manure floor 7. To counteract that bedding straw in the boxes is spread by the pigs out onto the manure floor 7, the latter is arranged at a level above the main floor of the stable, so that a flank 20a and 21, respectively, is formed in the box 1 and 2, respec¬ tively. However, the flanks 20a, 21 constitute a danger to newly born pigs, because there is a risk that the sows may squeeze the pigs against the flanks 20a, 21 during farrowing. This risk is eliminated by arranging the partition wall 12 and 14, respectively, such that a sow which is between the partition walls 11 and 12, and 13 and 14, respectively, for farrowing is kept at a distance from the flank 20a and 21, respectively. Figure 3 shows a stable adapted to suckling which lasts during about 5 to 6 weeks. During the suckling the sows are allowed to move more freely in order to be able to manure on the manure floor 7. To this end the partition walls 12 and 14 are mounted along the wall 8, so that the height of the latter is increased to 1,05 meter, which prevents the sows from finding their way across the wall 8. In case the partition walls 11 and 13 would be in the positions shown in figure 1 the partition walls 11 and 13 now are mounted in the positions shown in figures 2 and 3. Hereby a larger compartment 22 and 23, respectively, is formed for the sow between the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, and the wall 8 in the box 1 and 2, respectively.

In figure 2 there is shown how said larger department 22 and 23, respectively, is divided by the partition wall 12 and 14, respectively, into a farrowing space 24 and 25, respectively, for a quiet sow and a manure space 26 and 27, respectively, into which a part of the manure floor 7 extends.

Figure 4 shows the stable adapted to breeding piglets during a period of about 5 to 6 weeks directly after suckling, when the sows have been removed from the stable. The piglets now are big such that they only can pass under the partition walls 11 and 13 where each of these at one end is provided with a raised lower edge 28 and 29, respectively, (see figures 1 and 2). During this breeding period the piglets will have somewhat limited spaces in the boxes 1, 2 at their disposal, among other things to be enticed to manure on the available manure floor 7. To this end the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, is mounted in a position in which it extends between the short side wall 5 and 6, respec- tively, and the long side wall 4 and 3, respectively, as shown in figure 4. Hereby a triangular formed space as seen from above is separated from the remaining breeding space of the box 1 and 2, respectively. Since the partition walls 11 and 13 extend obliquely towards the walls 4 and 5, and 3 and 6, respectively, the piglets cannot pass into the triangular formed spaces via the passages which are formed between the main floor of the boxes 1, 2 and the raised lower edges 28, 29 of the partition walls 11 and 13.

Figure 5 shows the stable adapted to breeding pigs which during a last stage of growth of about two weeks are growing until they are ready to be slaughtered. During the final stage of growth the space in the boxes 1, 2 at the pigs disposal is to be increased. In addition, the height of the wall portions 19 and 20 has to be increased in order to prevent the now relatively big pigs from finding their way out of the boxes 1, 2 via the wall portions 19 and 20. To these ends the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, is mounted along the wall portion 19 and 20, respectively, so that the height of the latter is increased to 1,05 meter, as shown in figure 5.

To facilitate the adaptation of the partition walls 11 and 13 during the various stages of the pig breeding said walls 11, 13 are turnable between the various positions described above. Thus, the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, is turnable between its position shown in figure 1 and its position shown in figures 2 and 3, and between this latter position and its posi¬ tion shown in figure 4. In addition, the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, is turnable between its position according to figure 4 and its position shown in figure 5. At each short end the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, is provided with a simple hinge device, which can be released by removing pins (not shown in the figures). This provides the option of arranging the partition wall 11 and 13, respectively, to turn around either of the short ends.

In the drawings there is shown a stable comprising only one pair of identically designed boxes. Of course, the stable may comprise a plurality of such pairs of boxes arranged in series after one another, the long side walls being common for adjacent box pairs. The manure floor in each box pair suitably covers a manure dis¬ charge channel, which extends through all of the box pairs and which is provided with a conveying device for conveying away the manure.

Claims

1. A box (1; 2) for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered, comprising a circumferential wall (3-6) defining a breeding space, and a separate parti¬ tion wall (11; 3) mountable on the box in a first position to divide the breeding space into a first compartment (22; 23) intended to house a sow and a second compartment (15, 15a; 16, 16a) intended to house piglets, the partition wall being dimensioned such that in said first position it prevents the sow from passing from the first compartment to the second compartment but enables piglets to pass between the compartments, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a wall portion (19; 20) of the circumferential wall extending along said second compartment (15, 15a; 16, 16a) is low such that a keeper easily can step across said wall portion, but is high enough to prevent at least piglets, which still are sucking, from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion, and that the partition wall (11; 13) is mountable on the box in a second position (fig 5) , in which it is adapted to increase the height of the circumferential wall (3-6) along said wall portion, so that pigs which have grown such that they no longer are sucking are prevented from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion.

2. A box according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (11; 13) is mountable on the box (1; 2) in a third position (fig. 4), in which it limits the space which is at the pigs disposal in the box.

3. A box according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (11; 13) is turnable between the first position and the second position.

4. A box according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall is turnable between the first position and the third position.

5. A box according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said wall portion (19; 20) is at least 0,5 meter high.

6. A stable for breeding pigs from birth until they are to be slaughtered, comprising at least one pair of adjacent boxes (1, 2) having a main floor for breeding of two litters of pigs, said main floor including a manure floor, said boxes having circumferential walls (3-6, 8) defining a first breeding space for one pig litter and a second breeding space for the other pig litter and including a common wall (8) for the boxes extending across the manure floor (7) , each box being provided with a separate first partition wall (11; 13) and a separate second partition wall (12; 14), which first partition wall is mountable on the box in a first position to divide the first breeding space into a first compartment (22; 23) intended to house a sow and a second compartment (15, 15a; 16, 16a) intended to house piglets, the first partition wall being dimensioned such that in its said first position it prevents the sow from passing from the first compartment to the second com¬ partment but enables the piglets to pass between the compartments, which second partition wall is mountable on the box in a first position to divide the first compartment into a farrowing space (24; 25) for the sow and a manure space (26; 27) into which a part of the manure floor extends, the second partition wall being dimensioned such that in its first position it prevents the sow from passing from the farrowing space to the manure space but enables piglets to pass between said spaces, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that

a wall portion (19; 20) of the circumferential wall of each box (1, 2) extending along said second compartment (15, 15a; 16, 16a), is low such that a keeper easily can step across said wall portion, but is high enough to prevent at least piglets, which still are sucking, from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion,

the first partition wall (11; 13) of each box (1; 2) is mountable on the box in a second position (fig. 5), in which it is adapted to increase the height of the circumferential wall along said wall portion, so that pigs, which have grown such that they no longer are sucking, are prevented from finding their way out of the box across said wall portion,

said common wall (8) at least partly is low such that a keeper easily can step across it, but is high enough to prevent pigs, which still are sucking from finding their way across the common wall, and

the second partition walls (12, 14) of the boxes (1, 2) are mountable on the boxes in respective second positions, in which they are adapted to increase the height of the common wall (8 ) , so that pigs, which have grown such that they no longer are sucking, and sows, which are in the manure spaces (26, 27) of the boxes, are prevented from finding their way across the common wall.

7. A stable according to claim 6, wherein the manure floor (7) is substantially plane and extends at a level above the remaining main floor, so that a flank (20a and 21, respectively) is formed in each box (1 and 2, respectively), where the remaining floor of the stable passes into the manure floor, and the second partition walls (12, 14) of the boxes (1, 2) in their first positions divide the first compartments (22, 23) such that said flanks (20a, 21) in the boxes are located entirely within the manure spaces (26, 27) spaced from the farrowing spaces (24, 25), whereby sows which are in the farrowing spaces are prevented from squeezing pig- lets against said flanks.

8. A stable according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first partition walls (11, 13) are mountable on the boxes in respective third positions (fig. 4) , in which said walls delimit the spaces which are at the pigs disposal in the boxes (1, 2).

9. A stable according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each of the first partition walls (11, 13) is turnable between its first position and its second position.

10. A stable according to claim 8, wherein each of the first partition walls (11, 13) is turnable between its first position and its third position.

11. A stable according to any one of claims 6-10, wherein said wall portions of the boxes (1, 2) are at least 0,5 meter high.

12. A stable according to any one of claims 6-11, wherein said common wall (8) is at least 0,5 meter high.