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Better pork
August 2016
FEATURE
“The system sees each sow allocated
an individual LISA2 logger when
penned for farrowing,” he explains.
“The sow herd number is scanned
from a transponder or punched in.”
Time and date of first attendance is
automatically logged, as is the sow’s
medical history and treatments,
these details coming automatically
from the herd computer. When far-
rowing starts, the stockperson taps
in details of (piglets) born alive and
dead. During farrowing, the indi-
vidual LISA2 data loggers are hung
on special hooks above each farrow-
ing pen. Pre-set surveillance intervals
during farrowing are fed in from
the herd computer, and the LISA2
features an acoustic/visual alarm to
remind the attendant. If an alarm
is ignored or tampered with, this is
also noted by the herd computer.
The LISA2 data loggers will sell in
Europe in batches of 10 at a total
price equivalent to C $3,770.
Time-out for the heaviest sucklers
A new timed-lock system that keeps
the heaviest newborn piglets away
from Mum’s milk to give a better
chance to weaker piglets is prov-
ing a litter lifesaver in Danish trials.
Another brainwave from the innova-
tive Danish engineer Niels Veng and
his team at Farm Innovation, the
so-called VE 925 Split Suckling Aid,
is designed to allow the firstborn a
good drink of colostrum after which
they can be locked away for a pe-
riod, allowing weaker piglets free ac-
cess to the udder. The Split Suckling
Aid takes the form of an enclosed
creep area (usually where the piglets
sleep between suckling bouts). There
is a solid fibreglass barrier in front of
this enclosed creep area and this bar-
rier has a small door in it. The door
can be kept closed with a time-lock.
Inventor Niels Veng says the proce-
dure of locking up the heavier litter
members after they have had a drink
might have to be carried out several
times during the first day with litters
that are particularly big or non-uni-
form. “Current breeding successes
are giving us viable litters often top-
ping 14 live piglets. Making sure that
all litter members get that important
first few drinks of colostrum makes
all the difference to piglet survival,
and therefore breeding herd profit at
the end of the day.”
Because the creep locking system
is only required for the first day post-
farrowing, a single Split Suckling Aid
unit actually serves around 70 breed-
ing sows in a year, reckons Niels
Veng. Each unit comes with a meter
for setting the magnetic closing and
opening system. A digital display
shows the time remaining before
opening. Battery level is also indi-
cated. If the battery fails, the lock is
automatically released. Charging of
the lithium-ion batteries is normally
required every two months or so,
When closed, the Split Suckling Aid creep door keeps heavier piglets under detention for a few
hours after they have had their first drink of colostrum. This automatic system allows later-born
and weaker piglets a better chance at the udder and can help reduce pre-weaning mortality.