The Rural Voice, 1998-10, Page 24(()11,19/TTl:1) TOri)(',ALIT).YO('(AN 9)EPENl7ON
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20 THE RURAL VOICE
Farrowncst than in regular crates . In
regular crates .7 pigs per litter were
born dead and .52 pigs per litter were
crushed while the Farrownest had .56
born dead and .36 crushed. Dr.
Hurnik speculates the lower
incidence of stillborns in the oval
crates could relate to the freedom of
movement the design offers. He cites
a number of studies that show the
reduced space allowance in
traditional crates could lead to
prolonged farrowing time and a high
incidence of stillborn piglets.
Noting an almost 30 per cent cut
in the incidence of crushing, Dr.
Humik credits the curved sides of the
Farrownest. Noting a 1990 study that
reported sows that spend more time
in a dog -sitting position crush more
piglets, Hurnik said pigs in the oval
crates spend much Tess time sitting
than those in regular crates..
Jn her study, Veltmeyer observed
the pigs in the oval crates
frequently changed their positions
between individual deliveries by
standing up and turning around.
Overall, she said, the sows seemed to
be calmer prior to and during
farrowing and showed a higher
degree of interest in their litters, more
investigation of individual piglets
and seemed to want to help their
newborns. After farrowing, except
for turning and litter investigation,
the sows for the most part rested,
head oriented towards the piglets in
their kennel, she said. The kennel
was maintained clean and unsoiled.
The crates are still so new that on-
farm experience is limited. Tim and
Art Gerber have put five groups of
sows through their Farrownests since
April. While the Gerbers have found
Tess crushing in the four Farrownests
in their operation than with their
other 24 crates, Mel Weber of West
Montrose hasn't been so fortunate
with his single crate. Still he says the
problem is probably because of the
way he installed his crate, not the
crate itself.
The Gerbers have found it harder
to handle piglets with the oval crates
than with the regular crates and it
takes two of them to catch and treat
the little pigs but Tim attributes that
more to their peculiar cramped set up
than to design itself.
"So far I think they're a good
investment," he says. As well as Icss