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A do-it-yourself drawing of a farrowing pen for a sow can be developed if you know exactly the dimensions and structure of the structure. If you have little experience, the diagram can be found in the relevant literature or on the Internet. The farrowing cage has a simple design. To make it you need to have welding skills.
Advantages of using the machine
Many rural pig farmers save on purchasing or manufacturing a machine. For farrowing, sows simply set up a warm barn. The decision is wrong, since having a machine allows you to make more profit in the future.
During farrowing, a sow usually gives birth to up to 18 piglets. In good conditions, young animals grow quickly and gain weight. If all the livestock survives and grows, the owner will receive a good profit. However, at suckling age there is a risk of piglet death. The reason may be a lack of milk, the sow’s refusal to feed, or the weak condition of the babies. In most cases, the pig farmer cannot influence these processes. However, there is another problem. Up to 14% of deaths occur due to mechanical damage. After farrowing, the sow lies on her side most of the time.During the day she gets up, lies down, and turns over about 15 times to make feeding easier. During such movements, the suckers fall under the heavy side of the pig, are maimed or simply strangled. An assembled cage for a sow at home minimizes the risk of mechanical damage to the offspring.
Inexperienced owners may confuse the farrowing crate with the pen used for insemination. In fact, the designs are different in purpose. The insemination machine allows you to firmly fix the pig during fertilization. It is not suitable for farrowing. Similarly, pens designed for other animals are not suitable.
Having a farrowing pen available, the owner receives many advantages:
- Ideal conditions for safe farrowing are created for the pig.
- The number of offspring deaths is reduced.
- The convenience of feeding sucklings is improved. The piglets grow stronger faster and gain weight.
- It makes caring for the sow easier. It is easier for the owner to remove waste, since it is not scattered throughout the pigsty. In addition, less bedding material is required to cover a small area.
- The insemination pen cannot be used for farrowing, but the reverse procedure can be used. If necessary, the pig is clamped in the farrowing structure during artificial insemination.
After weighing all the advantages and future profits, it is more profitable for the pig breeder to bear the initial costs of manufacturing the machine.
Requirements for pens for pregnant sows
On pig farms, pregnant sows are kept in group pens of approximately 6-10 animals. The structures are made of stainless steel or ferrous metal with a galvanized coating. Sometimes they are simply painted.There are pens made of durable plastic for group housing of sows. However, their frame itself is made of metal. Only plastic gates and partitions.
Group structures are equipped with feeders and nipple-type drinkers. Pregnant sows are provided with free and individual housing in a group pen. Separate compartments are used to restrain the pig during examination by a veterinarian.
Regardless of whether the machine is group or single, home-made or factory-made, a number of requirements are imposed on the design. If the cage meets the standards, the work of the pig breeder will be greatly simplified, since he will need to clean, control the offspring and sow, and feed. The pen will be examined by a veterinarian and, if necessary, treatment and other actions will be carried out.
In order for a self-assembled pen for a sow to become a real assistant on the farm, it must meet the following requirements:
- Dimensions. On sale you can see farrowing pens of different sizes. This is not a marriage. Models are designed for different breeds. The weight of a sow can vary from 100 to 300 kg. When making it yourself, the dimensions are calculated taking into account the rock content. Typically, the width of pens is made from 50 to 70 cm. The minimum length is 140 cm, but the figure is similarly increased taking into account the length of the sow. The height of the structure is limited to 110 cm. A gap of 30 cm is maintained between the floor and the lower pipe of the machine.
- Material. The strength of a homemade farrowing structure is ensured only by metal. There are several options here. It is cheaper to weld a cage from an ordinary pipe, but it will have to be cleaned and painted annually. Ferrous metal rusts quickly.Galvanized pipes are considered the best choice in terms of price and quality. Stainless steel is considered the ideal material. The disadvantage of such pipes is their high cost.
- Practicality. The breeds of pigs raised may change over the years. It is not profitable to make a new farrowing cage every time. It is optimal to immediately make a sliding structure with the ability to adjust the size to suit the sow’s body type.
- Location type. The machines are installed diagonally or straight. Selection according to owner's preference. However, diagonal models are more difficult to clear of manure. In addition, in such cages the sow's nipples are more likely to be injured.
- Floor. To avoid cleaning the machine from manure several times a day, the flooring is made with slots. The size of the gaps cannot be overestimated. In large cracks on the floor, the hooves of a standing pig, or the nipples of a sow during feeding, when the female is lying on her side, will get stuck.
A pen purchased or made independently is placed in a farrowing box. The compartment should be spacious. In addition to the area for the cage, the box provides space for the kids to run around. It is optimal to prepare a box with an area of 4.5 m for the machine2.
How to make a pig farrowing cage
To make a cage you will need a drawing, metal and welding skills. The process will go faster if you have the opportunity to actually see the structure of the finished machine.
Tools and materials
When assembling a pen for farrowing sows with your own hands, you will need to stock up on materials:
- pipe with a diameter of 25-40 mm;
- elbows of a similar section;
- hinges for gates;
- welding electrodes;
- cutting wheels for an angle grinder.
Tools you can't do without a welding machine and a grinder. Additionally, you need a hammer and pliers.
Drawings, dimensions
It is easier to assemble the cage using ready-made drawings. Dimensions can be maintained if they suit the sow's body type. Otherwise, the animal is subjected to measurement. Be sure to make a small reserve, because over time the sow is able to gain weight.
Build process
When all the tools and materials are prepared, the dimensions are determined, and there is a drawing at hand, we begin to assemble the farrowing cage:
- Adhering to the dimensions of the drawing, blanks are cut from pipes using a grinder. Each element is numbered so as not to be confused.
- The prepared workpieces are welded into a single structure. Where turns are required, elbows are welded to the pipes.
- A feeder is attached to the front of the cage at a height of 50 cm from the floor.
- An opening for a gate is left in the fenced structure. The door is secured with hinges so that it opens outward and inward. Be sure to provide a latch.
- The cage structure consists of arcs and bars. Additionally, dampers are made. The elements allow the sow to be fixed in a lying or standing position, which reduces the risk of pinching the sucklings.
All structural elements must be securely fastened. The requirement also applies to the feeder and drinking bowl.
The video shows a sample of the machine:
Installation of the structure
At the time of manufacturing the cage, the box where it will be located must be prepared. The room is insulated, the possibility of drafts is eliminated, and natural ventilation is provided. The air ducts are equipped with adjustable dampers.
The cage can be made mobile or stationary.If the second option is chosen, the structure is immediately welded to the concrete racks. Fixation is carried out with corners. A gap is left under the floor to allow a pull-out tray to be inserted.
In the room, the machine is positioned so that there is free access for suckers on both sides. Drinkers with a feeder are attached to one side of the cage, and a red lamp is securely fixed on the opposite wall in a protective mesh. It will serve as a source of light and heating.
Terms of use
To make the sow and sucklings comfortable, maintain the temperature in the range of 32-37 OC. If the box is well insulated, a 150 W lamp will provide the required temperature in the cage area. Control is carried out with a regular thermometer.
The floor for the sow is laid soft. Be sure to monitor the availability of food and water. If the drinking bowl is empty during farrowing, the pig is able to eat the offspring. Ventilation is regulated by dampers until high-quality air exchange is achieved.
Conclusion
It is more convenient to develop a drawing of a crate for farrowing a sow with your own hands because all the nuances are taken into account. The owner adjusts the design to his needs and takes into account the specific location in the box.
