Choose a suitable hog farrowing crate, not just choosing a metal structure in the pig farm. The crate must be adapted to the size of the sow, provide a suitable environment for the newborn piglets, fit the space conditions of the pig pen, and can be used in conjunction with the feeding, heating, floor and cleaning systems of the farm. Even if the structure of the farrowing stall itself is well manufactured, if the planning of the farrowing stall is unreasonable, it may increase the difficulty of daily management.
For commercial pig farms, the most practical way is to comprehensively evaluate the size of the sow, the size of the sow crate, the space available for piglets, the installation layout and the management needs of the farm before placing an order. This article will introduce the key factors that need to be checked when choosing a pig farrowing crate, how to plan the surrounding delivery space, and details that deserve special attention before installation.
What Should You Look for in a Hog Farrowing Crate?
Hog farrowing crate is a special equipment for the farrowing area, where sows will give birth and feed their piglets. When choosing a crate, the buyer should consider the complete configuration of the farrowing setup, and should not only pay attention to the farrowing stall itself.
The first thing to consider is the sow. The farrowing crate should provide enough space for the sow to stand, lie down, and move between the two postures without encountering unnecessary difficulties. And its dimensions should also suit the size and type of sows on the farm. A birthing bed that is too narrow may hinder the normal activities of sows, and the inappropriate layout may also increase the difficulty of daily inspection and assistance to sows when necessary.
The second factor to consider is the protection of piglets. Newborn piglets need a warm and dry resting area and can safely approach sows for feeding. The design of the farrowing cage and the surrounding pen should reduce the risk of piglets being trapped or crushed by sows as much as possible, and at the same time, it is convenient for the staff to observe the situation of the whole piglets.
Materials, structure, entry and exit channels, and compatibility with existing floors are equally important. The buyer should confirm the actual product specifications with the supplier, instead of acquiescing that all hog farrowing crates have the same size or structural configuration.
Finally, it is also necessary to consider the use of the hog farrowing pen in daily production. Staff need to conveniently feed, clean and check piglets, and assist sows when necessary. If the crate is not easy to check or maintain, it may add unnecessary workload throughout the production cycle.
What Size Should a Farrowing Crate Be?
Farrowing crate dimensions should be selected according to the size of the sow, the layout of the existing pig pen and the management needs of the farm. There is no uniform size that can be automatically applied to all pigs.
For example, suppliers may provide a variety of bed lengths to meet different installation needs. Our company's swine farrowing crate can provide the following length specifications:
- 7 feet (2.1 meters)
- 7 feet 3 inches (2.2 meters)
- 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 meters)
- 7 feet 9 inches (2.4 meters)
These different length options can provide more options for buyers when planning the farrowing area.
However, the longest specification is not necessarily the most appropriate choice. You should also consider the size of the sow, the actual available space inside the delivery stall, the location of the door, and the space required for the piglet rest area.
In addition, the overall size of the farrowing cage and the space required for installation should also be confirmed, because the actual available space inside may be different from the external measurement size.
Width and height are equally important. Even if the hog crates can be put into the existing ground area, if the internal width limits the movement of the sow, or the surrounding structure hinders the operation of personnel, it may still not be suitable for actual use.
Therefore, the purchaser should request a complete dimensional drawing from the supplier, which should show the internal and external dimensions, the position of the door and the installation requirements.
Before placing an order, the size of the sow farrowing crate to be purchased should be compared with the actual layout of the production column. If the pig house already has a fixed graphic design, it is necessary to check the location of the fence, drainage facilities, feeding equipment and staff passages. This can reduce the risk of expensive adjustments after the arrival of the equipment.
How Should a Farrowing Crate Be Designed for Sow and Piglet Safety?
The farrowing area must meet the different needs of the two animals at the same time. Sows need enough space to change their posture and feed the piglets, while piglets need a protected rest area, a suitable temperature, and a channel to approach the sows smoothly.
Therefore, when choosing a farrowing crate for sow and piglets, it is necessary to pay attention to the design of the whole farrowing column, not just the frame of the farrowing cage.
An important consideration is the resting area for piglets. Newborn piglets are easily affected by low temperatures, so the birthing pen should provide a dry, comfortable and properly heated area so that the whole litter of piglets can rest together.
The heating equipment must be reasonably arranged and controlled according to the needs of the piglets, while avoiding exposure of sows to excessive temperatures.
The design of the farrowing stall should also reduce the risk of piglets being crushed by sows as much as possible. The pressure bar of the Farrowing bed or other appropriate protective structures can help the piglets get shelter when the sow lies down. However, the actual effect of these structures depends on the design, installation and daily management of the entire production column. No single protection facility can completely eliminate all risks.
The floor also needs to be paid attention to. Sows need a ground that can stand stably, while piglets need a ground suitable for their small size and their legs are still developing. The opening of the floor, the edge and the connection between different floor areas should not form avoidable safety hazards. The floor also needs to support effective drainage and cleaning.
These requirements should be evaluated comprehensively. Even if the size of the hog farrowing crate is suitable, it cannot make up for the problems such as unreasonable design of the piglet rest area, inappropriate floor or improper heating arrangement.
Therefore, before purchasing, the buyer should ask the supplier how the pig delivery bed will be used with the existing floor system and piglet protection equipment of the farm.
How to Plan a Practical Farrowing Pen Layout?
Reasonable farrowing pen design should make animal care more convenient, while ensuring that the farrowing house, feeding equipment, heating system and drainage facilities can cooperate with each other.
First of all, the available ground area should be measured and confirmed. Mark the location of each hog crates to be installed, the staff passage, and the location of feeding and drinking equipment.Check whether the door of the crate gate can be fully opened, and whether the staff can easily approach the animals when inspecting or assisting sows and piglets.
Next, plan the rest area for the piglets. The area should be convenient for piglets to enter and exit, and it should also be convenient for staff to observe.The heating equipment should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the electrical lines or other equipment connection parts need to be protected from moisture to avoid being affected by moisture and daily cleaning operations.
Drainage and manure management should also be planned at the same time. The ground layout needs to be easy to clean, and at the same time to avoid long-term water accumulation in the area where pigs rest or walk.If the pig crate adopts a slatted floor, it should be confirmed that the support structure of the swine farrowing crates is compatible with the slatted floor, and ensure that the equipment can be fixed correctly.
Finally, it is necessary to consider the daily workflow of the staff. Staff may need to check multiple litters of piglets, replenish feed and water, clean the farrowing stall, and check the condition of the piglets during the same working hours. It can make these tasks easier to complete by allowing staff to approach the layout of animals clearly and conveniently.
For farms under construction of new pig farm, it is usually better to coordinate the size of the farrowing crate and the layout of the ground plane before the construction is completed.If the crate is installed in the existing pig farm, the available space should be carefully measured and confirmed whether the equipment is compatible with the on-site conditions before placing an order.
What Should Buyers Check Before Ordering a Hog Farrowing Crate?
Before purchasing hog farrowing crate, the buyer should confirm all specifications that affect the size matching, installation and daily use of the equipment. It is impossible to judge whether the sow farrowing pen is suitable for a specific pig house from the product photos alone.
First of all, you should ask the supplier for the size drawings. The drawing should show the overall length and width of the farrowing houses, the internal space, the position of the door, and other dimensions required to confirm the compatibility of the equipment.At the same time, it should also be confirmed whether the size of the product labeling refers to the size of the farrowing crates frame itself or the space required after the installation of the equipment is completed.
Secondly, the structural parameters should be checked. The specifications of our company's hog farrowing crate include the following pipe sizes:
- internal pipe size: 26.9 × 2.3 mm
- External pipe size: 33.7 × 2.9 mm
The buyer should confirm that the delivered products meet the specifications agreed by both parties, and further confirm the materials, surface treatment methods and other structural details with the supplier before placing an order.
Third, the specific configuration should be confirmed. The arrangement of the door, the installation fixed point, and the connection between the production bed and the surrounding production column may affect the installation process.
If the equipment needs to be integrated into the existing system, the buyer should provide the supplier with the size of the available space on site and photos of the installation area.
Fourth, delivery and assembly arrangements should be discussed. Confirm how the sow farrowing pen will be packaged, whether it needs to be assembled on site, what tools or fasteners are needed for installation, and whether the supplier can provide installation drawings.
These details are especially important for buyers who need to purchase multiple sets of equipment for commercial farms.
Finally, it should be clear which components are included in the quotation. Heating equipment, floors, feeders, water dispensers and other accessories may need to be supplied separately.
Clarifying the scope of supply in advance can reduce the understanding deviation of both parties and help buyers compare the quotations of different suppliers more accurately.
How Can Farrowing Crates Fit into a Complete Pig Housing System?
Hog farrowing crate is just an integral part of the well-planned pig farm equipment system. The configuration of surrounding equipment will affect the efficiency of farms in managing sows, caring for piglets, maintaining hygiene and arranging daily work.
For example, the floor must be compatible with the farrowing crates and suitable for the animals that use the pen. Feeding and drinking equipment should be easy to use and should not obstruct the passage of staff.The heating system needs to provide a suitable resting environment for piglets, while ventilation and drainage facilities help maintain a suitable pig barn environment.
Farms also need to plan the transfer of animals between different stages of production.The farrowing crate facilities are used before and after sows' birth and during lactation, while the gestation equipment serves another stage in the sow's production cycle. Although the two types of equipment have different uses, they need to be coordinated with the layout and management plan of the entire pig barn.
Therefore, when evaluating the farrowing crate, the cooperation between it and the entire breeding facility should be considered, rather than treating it as an independently procured product.
A coordinated and reasonable equipment design can reduce installation problems and make daily management more convenient.
If you want to know more about the various equipment used in pigsties, you can read our pig housing equipment guide.
If you are comparing the delivery bed and pregnancy bar systems, you can also read our related articles: What Is The Difference Between Sow Farrowing Crate And Gestation Crate
