Gift room tips

What is the future of chaps?

The way in which clones should be built is under discussion everywhere, particularly in Western Europe. In particular, the execution and flooring of kronoegs is a complex question that remains unclear. How do I make my nursery future-proof, what is the best choice for the nursery equipment and how do I get the most benefit from my stall with new techniques as a pig farmer? These are many recurring questions on which little objective and coherent information can be found. We would like to advise you on this for free.

I want to build my nursery, but what should I take into account in general?

Obviously, every entrepreneur wants to move forward rather than stand still, but they also want to build future-proof, so that everything does not have to be adjusted in 5 years' time. In some countries, minimum floor areas of the nursery have already been defined and there is already clarity, but in others there is still a lot of discussion about the frameworks to be established and no firm agreement will be reached on them in the coming years. However, what many people have forgotten is that this discussion does not end at national borders. Example: There are clear signs that as piglets from land A are delivered to a meat pig farm in country B, which consequently the piglets must be bred in accordance with the requirements of country B. Moreover, it is not easy for Stalin Adjusters from land A to be fully aware of the requirements in country B. We can help you with this.

What does PT0 as a feed-box producer know about kroenpoks?

Because we, PT0 , as a Dutch pig feed trough producer, work closely with Stalin founders and research centres throughout Europe, we experience this discussion closely and we feel the direction of sows. What kind of maternity system, what floor areas and what variants of cloning are subjects that we get a lot of from the sidelines in various European countries? By keeping our eyes and ears open and combining this information, we can help you with objective information.

Which nursery system should I choose?

First of all, it is important for which maternity system you choose. After this you can only continue with your plans. So let's not take this into account. The traditional nursery is less future-proof for pig farming in Western Europe and is now expected to be phased out. In some countries a free-range nursery is already mandatory as in Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, there is already a lot of experience with traditional stalls, which means that little information can be added. We are therefore focusing entirely on more future-proof sockets and these are free-walking sockets.

Two choices are possible in free-loop sockets. You can choose a walk-krongok or a free-loop booth. Of course this depends on your building possibilities.

They are both good systems that are future-proof, but free-run stalls are the most future-proof of the two. In addition, we expect that a free-run nursery will provide you with a higher return. We will explain to you below why.

In the case of free-run breeding pigs, move both the sow and piglets to other lofts after the maternity period. In the case of free-run stalls you only move the sow after the maternity period, but the piglets remain up to 25 kilograms in the same nursery. So you keep the rein together and don't have to move it. A pig is a creature of habit and does not like change. Any change leads to unrest, and unrest leads to limited growth. And this difference in growth can be large. But there are more differences between free-walking and free-walking stalls. Below we will show you the advantages and disadvantages of free-run stalls compared to free-run stalls.

More peace for the animals. You can hold the check in the same nursery (up to 25/30kg) without having to move them to the piglets' ward. This gives a lot of rest, and this furthermore helps to control and grow in many areas. This is a recurring advantage.
Rest for you. Much less work is needed because the piglets do not have to be moved to the piglets breeding department. In addition, you don't need to clean sockets because of the more because that link is theoretically completely out. This is a recurring advantage.
Economic advantage. Because there is no need to clean kroning socks you save on labour and on rinse water that ends up in the dung pit. This is a recurring advantage.
Investment advantage. You do not need to set up separate piglets lofts. This is a one-time advantage.
Future-proofer than freeloop-kroenok because of higher animal welfare by keeping the rein together in the same loft. Think of future measures on tail bites. This is a recurring advantage.

What are the main disadvantages of the free-range stand-up loft compared to the free-range stand:

Due to the higher investment for more needed free-run stalls, this has a payback period of about 6 years. This is a one-time disadvantage.

What floor area should I take into account in case of a free-run stall?

The surface of the sockets is also a discussion in each country. Free range stalls already built are at least 6m2. However, we hear that the number of square meters is increasing rather than decreasing. In Germany, the law becomes at least 6.5m2 per free-range nursery. In addition, the number of piglets born alive continues to increase and there should also be sufficient room for that. We recommend keeping a minimum of 7m2 per walk-kr together to build future-proof. In addition, in Germany, for example, there is an obligation that there is sufficient freedom of movement for the sow and that the piglets should be able to walk freely behind the sow. This also affects the required floor area.

What kind of floor do I need

Floor executions are also an interesting subject in relation to cronies. For example, there is not one specific floor suitable for free-loop stalls but it should rather be a combination of different floors. After all, we are dealing with three different stages of the pig's life in free-range stalls, namely: maternity, sow and weaned piglets. There will have to be a section of grid floor but also a section of dense floor. In several countries this is often linked to certain percentages or formulas of the total floor area. In Germany, for example, the law requires that under the sow a certain surface should be dense floor and that the floor should be only 7 per cent perforated/with holes or crevices. The law also lays down requirements, for example in Germany, on the implementation of nursery floors and areas of lying area and close to piglets. For example, some softer floors are required for the babybigs. This should also not be too soft, as this gives disadvantages to the hygiene and durability of the floor. These soft floors with good grip can be easily and cost-effectively solved by e.g. an Ekogrip plastic floor plate with 2mm rubber top layer. We have these plastic plates in our range and we can make them in whatever shape and size the customer wants. These durable but soft plates can also be placed on or on the existing floor during renovation. We also use these plates for the floor heating plates for piglets' nests use from the Prodromi project. These heating plates can also be delivered in custom. These heating plates are also often used for renovation when other heating plates are worn out or not warm up properly because they do not appear to be oxygen-tight. These are beneficial solutions that you can also apply afterwards when renovating existing floors. The practice also teaches us that if you choose free-run stalls it is advisable to also have a piece of concrete floor in the loft. As a result, there is sufficient claw wear of the piglets during the rearing period so that the piglets do not leave the breeding lofts with too long claws.

We have close contacts with floor manufacturers and suppliers of floors and we would like to put you in touch with them if you would like more information about them.

What kind of facility should I take for free-walking cronies?

There is also a difference between free-loop and free-loop stalls. For example, in the case of free-walk pens, part of the sow box will have to be foldable, while in the case of free-walk stalls the whole sow box will have to be foldable. Before and after the pitch, the sow must have enough freedom of movement and at least one side of the box must be folded away. Around the pitch, however, the sow will have to be temporarily fixed by folding the box completely.

In the case of free-run stalls, the whole box will have to be folded up after the sow is gone, because the piglets remain up to 25/30 kg and otherwise the box will be in the way.

There are many systems available in the market and we hear from the sows farmers the advantages but certainly also the disadvantages of existing versions. If you have any questions about this, we can refer you to a Stalin Adjuster who has the system that best suits your needs or bring in contact with a fellow sow holder to share experiences.

What is the best system of feeding and drinking in the bowls?

Feeding and drinking is, in our opinion, the most important aspect of your free-walking stalls. The correct feed tray will determine at least half of the success of your free-loop kroenkok, according to our customer and Ambassador Brummelhuis. The feeding system that we recommend at all free-loop and free-loop stalls is the KZB nursery family feed bin. In essence, this is a closed back wall, beaded side wall and lowered foal with a drink nipple for the sow. The valve hangs low so that both sow and small baby niggas can operate the valve and is mimicked. A very simple but solid system.

The sow eats the entire period in the nursery from this unique KZB feed tray with reduced feed ray. With the valve mechanism, the sow itself dosed the feed from the KZB storage bunker, which is 36 litres large. The feed tray can be infinitely adjusted so that the feed is adjusted per stroke of the valve. Because the sow eats at floor level she subconsciously pushes her head against the valve and small portions of food continue to fall in front of the nose. The sow must take care of her own food by moving the valve. This mimics the natural rooting behavior, which greatly stimulates eating compared to a system that the sow feed is thrown into a trough, for which it does nothing else.

The drinking nipple that is in the KZB feed bowl provides the sow with sufficient water. Here too, we see in practice that piglets are already very early in the process of cutting the sow trench. Because the sow drinks much more, the water is always fresh and likes to be absorbed by the piglets.

In mid 2021 we received figures from a German pig farmer with common kroenpoks and 2 test-kroenpoks with the KZB family feed box in it. The sows with KZB free-run nursery feeding troughs have eaten as much as 20 kilos more sows during the maternity period than from the shrimp with doser. This is due to various factors such as fresher feed, the sow can easily reach the trough, the natural rooting behavior is imitated and the valve is played after which a reward follows. This large extra feed intake brings all together the milk gift of the sow that once again benefits the piglets, who benefit from this gap their whole life.

When the piglets are born, we see in practice that the piglets start to sweeten the sow feed after about 4 days after birth and that the sow teaches the piglets where to get the food. This induces early saliva production in the piglets and ensures that the gut flora gets used to solid food at an early stage. At a weight of about 7.5 kilos we see that average piglets have grown up to 900 grams more than with a traditional system of sow trench with dosator. From this excellent start the big benefits his whole life. For these results one does not need to change feed and this success is entirely due to the KZB feed bin, it supports mother-child behavior.

Pig farmers with nursery stalls using the KZB feed tray indicate that the piglets are at weight 1 week earlier. Moreover, an advantage is that due to an improved milk supply of the sow and because the piglets are sucked away from the sow feed, one can also get out with often more expensive prestarters. That's cost-effective. Because the piglets are already used to solid feed, the piglets also have almost no problem with teat tip after the maternity period. After all, the transition from milk to solid feed has already been stimulated by the mother from day 4 and therefore there is no sudden transition for the piglets.

If the piglets are left in a free-range nursery, the piglets will continue to eat from the same feed bowl. After all, they know where the food comes from and they can take the piglets' food out of the bin at the valve. This gives perfect results.

The zeugendrininknippel is switched off and the piglets should drink from a separate drinker at the bin. PT0 can also drinking troughs supply for piglets or even attach them to the KZB feed tray. In addition, we have a nursery piglet feeders with a solid trough or removable trough, which can be incorporated into the wall and which can also, with their 10 litre storage bunker, feed the baby-bigs at an early stage.

Can I also use a KZB feed tray in common sockets?

The answer to that is simple. More and more often we see that the KZB stand-in tank is also used for partial renovation of existing sockets, especially where trough or water pipe is worn out. The sow holder can benefit directly by changing the method of feeding from the advantages already described. Due to the durability (RVS) of the KZB, this can be easily fitted later when the free-loop sockets are fitted.

What does a KZB feed bin cost?

The KZB replaces a piece of fence and wall, for example HPL (trespa), and the sow trench and a loose sow drinker. These additional costs you would normally make are almost comparable to the cost of a KZB bin. The KZB feed tray does not have to be more expensive than a common system. In addition, the feed bowl gets back quickly because of the advantages you have with the growth of the piglets.

How solid is a KZB feed bin?

The KZB feed bin is not an expensive high tech system that is susceptible to malfunctions. It is, like all our systems, a solid simple unique feed bowl that has been produced 100% in the Netherlands and is doing an excellent job for sow and piglets and really leads to excellent results. We and the many users of the KZB food container are genuinely of the opinion that there is no simpler and better feeding system for your crotch than the KZB.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the KZB food container compared to a sow dosator with trough and loose drinker?

Much better milking by the sow. This is because the sow absorbs much more food by the way of eating because of the well-designed feed bowl. This is a recurring advantage.
Satisfied and more active sow, because it can naturally eat small portions. This is a recurring advantage.
Fat sow. Because the sow eats more, it also comes from the nursery and this often benefits the development of the embryos from the next throw. This is a recurring advantage.
No teat tip. Because the pig already has 4 days with the mother, the transition to solid food is excellent. This is a recurring advantage.
One week earlier, in the case of piglets reared for maternity, the weight was improved by the transition from milk to solid feed. This is a recurring advantage.
Uniform piglets, because they all have enough milk and because they can suck out 24/7 with the mother. This is a recurring advantage.
Certainly not more expensive to buy than a loose piglets feed bowl, sow trench, drinker for the sow and finish of the loft on which the trough hangs. This is a one-time advantage.
Cost-saving because one needs much less expensive prestarter for the piglets. This is a recurring advantage.
Rest for you. The KZB feed tray is unique and special due to its simplicity. The bowl is made with its beaded edges extremely solid and does not cause any malfunctions for which high tech systems are more sensitive. Anyone can easily work with this system and that gives you confidence and peace. This is a daily return advantage.

Disadvantages KZB feed tray compared to sow trench with dosator and loose drinker:

The sow cannot lie under the KZB tank as the sow could with a higher trough. Depending on the legislation (not everywhere the space under the trough is considered as freedom of movement for the sow) in some cases one will have to have some deeper lofts. However, the KZB is only 210 mm deep. This is a one-time disadvantage.

PT1 can and would like to share knowledge with you about free-walk breeding and free-walk breeding lofts and about feeding and drinking in chaperones when you are orienting. We can also propose you to the right parties that can help you to achieve your needs and needs. We only work with renowned Stalin Adjusters. We have no advantage in referring you to a company that is not specialised in free movement stalls or a company we do not trust. There are Stalin Adjusters who have really specialized in free-loop stalls and who produce their own systems.

In addition to knowledge, PT1 can provide you with information on feeding troughs for sows and piglets, maternity trays, floor heating, soft plastic stud plates for dense area, piglets' cabins, piglets' nests and drinking troughs. Do you have any questions? Contact us! We are happy to help you. +31 (0)413-474036 info@verba.nl