Managing TRAINING for your barn.
In many non-competitive feeding systems training is an important step to ensure the transition to group sow housing.
Electronic sow feeders (ESF)
Some training of sows and gilts is required with the ESF system. When transitioning to ESF all animals must be trained, however, once the initial training is complete, only new gilts entering the system will require training. Some sows and gilts may be cautious and reluctant to enter the feeding station if they have not come in contact with it before. A separate training pen should be used to train the sows and gilts on how to access the feeder system .This system of gated areas allows staff to adjust the size of the entrance and exit pens as the day progresses. Some sows or gilts will need encouragement to enter the feeder. This can be done by placing a small amount of feed on the floor at the feeder entrance to encourage the sow or gilt in. Use of low stress animal handling techniques is also an option to get the sow or gilt into the feeder.
Training pens should consist of groups of 30 – 40 sows or gilts, and training should ideally occur before breeding when any missed feeds will not affect production. Early in the training period, the gate to the ESF can be tied open, and feeders should be well illuminated with overhead lighting to encourage exploratory behaviour of the sows.
Some feeders have a manual training button that, when pressed, will dispense feed when the sow enters, providing an immediate reward for entering the feeder. As sows become accustomed to the ESF, less interference by staff will be necessary and the gate to the feeder can be gradually closed. The training period will take 7 to 14 days to complete. A training pen can also be set up using gates similar to the ESF, but without the ESF unit, in order to facilitate training without the added cost.
Stockpersons with excellent animal handling skills and patience should be responsible for ESF training. It is vital that sows or gilts do not have a negative experience when learning to use the feeder as they can become reluctant to enter. After the whole barn has been trained, the training area will be used only for gilt training. This should also take place prior to breeding. If carried out correctly, gilts will become used to the feeder and to handling as the training progresses.
Free access electronic sow feeders (ESF)
The stall is also very easy for sows to use, with a simple gating system that requires minimal supervision or training. Most sows learning the system with no manual training. Gilts should be introduced to the system a week before mature sows, or can be trained in a separate pen with additional space and reduced sow numbers. Gilts and sows require some training to learn how to use the feeding stalls. Training areas can be used prior to breeding and should provide 1 feeder per 7 to 10 animals. Sows will tend to learn the system faster than gilts; slower learners will learn by observing faster.
Stockpersons that are conducting the training need to follow a carefully structured program and be patient with the gilts to avoid creating any negative association with the feeders. Special attention should be paid to ensuring the gilts learn how to trigger the mechanisms that allow them to feed and to exit the stall.
