Challenges facing the management of the farrowing house are many and unlocking the potential of the piglet’s performance is made easier with the Mini Transition Feeder.
Modern genetics have led to larger litters demanding more of the sow, combined with later weaning and more recently with the removal of zinc from diets, the importance of weaning stronger pigs that thrive post-weaning has become even more of a challenge.
Offering dry creep feed in the farrowing house helps improve piglet’s performance but results can be variable. The Mini Transition Feeder is a supplementary feeder installed in between farrowing pens that makes it easier to realise these benefits by offering freshly mixed gruel from high-quality pre-starter diets fed after the first few days until weaning. Offering feed in this way increases both early and overall feed intake resulting in both increased weight gain and better conditioning of the gut pre-weaning.
Stockmen and women report the Mini Transition Feeder delivers vastly improved quality and consistency of piglets at weaning that have no hesitation feeding post-weaning. Results demonstrate Increased weaning weights, reduced feed waste and pigs significantly heavier at 3 weeks post-weaning than those fed from creep bowls.
From shifting smoothly from sow’s milk to dry or wet feed systems, and transitioning from periodic suckling to ad-libitum feeding without causing scouring, to maintaining a positive growth curve from day one of weaning – all these steps play a vital role in a piglet’s health, growth, and productivity.
The Mini Transition Feeder is installed in the division between two farrowing pens to assist the stockman in improving pre and post-weaning performance.
Offering a supplementary feed of freshly mixed gruel and water provides new strategies for dealing with large litter numbers.
Early trial work undertaken on a unit indicates positive data for the Mini Transition Feeder. Piglets on the trial were all weaned at 28 days and supplementary feeding started at 4-5 days of age. Half of the piglets were on the Mini Transition Feeders and the other bowl fed creep.