Farrow-to-Wean pen
THE CONCEPT
From birth to post-weaning, without changing pens
The Farrow-to-Wean system is based on a simple principle: after the sow leaves, the piglets remain in the pen where they were born until they are transferred to the finishing unit. By removing the need to move piglets at weaning, this management system limits simultaneous changes in environment, social group and feed. Piglets remain in familiar surroundings, retain their usual reference points and can continue growing under more stable conditions.
During lactation, the pen accommodates the sow and her litter. After weaning, the crate is raised to free up the entire floor area for the piglets. The farrowing pen is therefore converted into a fully functional post-weaning pen.
Farrow-to-Wean provides an innovative response to the key challenges currently facing pig farms: animal welfare, reduced weaning stress, simplified daily work and adaptation to future regulatory and societal expectations.
Main technical characteristics
OPERATION
During farrowing and the piglets’ first days of life, the sow can be temporarily confined within the crate to secure handling and reduce the risk of piglet crushing. The pen configuration can then be adjusted to give the sow greater freedom of movement. At weaning, only the sow leaves the room. The crate is raised or folded away to release the space required by the piglets, which remain in their original environment.
LIFT-ASSISTED CRATE
The lift-assistance system makes it easy to raise the crate. Once raised, the living space available to the sow and the piglets is larger. This design also makes everyday handling easier and improves working comfort for farm staff. Once the sow has left the pens, it can therefore be converted quickly from a farrowing configuration to a post-weaning configuration, without moving the piglets or carrying out any complex procedures.
FEEDING
The pen can be equipped with a family feeder shared by the sow and her piglets. Attracted by their mother’s feeding behaviour, the piglets gradually discover solid feed and learn to use the trough through imitation. This early familiarisation helps ease the nutritional transition at weaning.
FLOORING
The Pro Grip plastic flooring features a textured surface designed to provide secure footing for both the sow and her piglets. Its anti-slip surface improves stability, including when the floor is wet. Its perforations facilitate manure drainage and help maintain good hygiene conditions inside the pen.
PIGLET SOCIALISATION
Openings can be integrated into the pen partitions to allow progressive contact between neighbouring litters. This early socialisation helps piglets become accustomed to living in a larger group before entering the finishing stage. Depending on the chosen management system, the openings can be used during lactation or after weaning.
ADVANTAGES OF THE FARROW-TO-WEAN PEN
- Reduced stress at weaning, as piglets remain in the pen where they were born.
- Less animal handling, because piglets no longer need to be transferred from the farrowing unit to a post-weaning room.
- Progressive socialisation before piglets enter the finishing unit.
- Improved working comfort, with simpler management and a lift-assisted crate.
- Compatibility with free-farrowing systems, helping farms respond to changing practices and animal-welfare expectations.
Could this solution be suitable for your farm? Contact our teams to identify the most appropriate configuration for your project.
INVESTMENT BENEFIT
Greater flexibility in daily work
With on-site weaning, piglets no longer have to be transferred from the farrowing unit to a post-weaning room. This removes a handling stage that usually requires significant time and labour. Instead, the pen changes function around the animals. Once the sow has left, the crate is raised and the whole area becomes available to the piglets. This continuity simplifies the weaning process, reduces animal handling and limits disruption for the piglets.
A more stable environment for piglets
Weaning is a sensitive period during which several changes usually occur at the same time: separation from the sow, a new diet, relocation, a new environment and mixing with unfamiliar animals. The Farrow-to-Wean system removes the need to change buildings or pens. Piglets retain the same floor, resting area, feeding point and familiar surroundings. By limiting the number of simultaneous changes, the system is designed to reduce the disruption associated with weaning and support a smoother transition towards the finishing stage.
for more information
Would you like to know whether on-site weaning is suitable for your farm?
Our teams can assess your building, batch-management system and objectives in order to propose a customised Farrow-to-Wean configuration.
