Taking the job into account in the design and fitting out of livestock housing: example

of a pig farrowing facility

Caroline DepoudentBrittany Chamber of Agriculture - France

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 2

Work and pig farrowing facility

• Livestock housing, fittings and working conditions: a few principles

– Visibility and accessibility– Labour saving– Sometimes, the details make the difference– Promoting autonomy

• How to improve the working conditions in a livestock housing?

A few principles

Visibility and accessibility

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 3

• Good visibility to:– Detect problems more quickly, without entering the stalls– Be able to choose working postures

A few principles

Visibility and accessibility

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 4

In farrowing facilities, access is needed for:

Access to the trough

Monitoring farrowingChecking for pigletsScraping

Monitoring feedsPicking up piglets

When possible, have front AND rear corridors

A few principles

Labour saving

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 5

A few principles

Sometimes, the details make the difference

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 6

Drainage of troughs

Arm / body angleNecessary strength

A few principles

Sometimes, the details make the difference

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 7

ScrapingNumber of gestures to open / scrape / close

Accessibility of the hatch

Locking of the cageEasy to handle

Clearly visible holeNothing protruding

A few principles

Promoting autonomy

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 8

A few principles

Promoting autonomy

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 9

Farrowing facility

Lifter

9 “buffer” stalls .

Scale

What process?

WHO?Will do WHAT?

HOW?Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 10

WHO?

Mr Dupont may have the same pigs as his neighbourIn any case, he doesn’t have the same employees, the same wife...

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 11

Age? Strength?State of health?

Expectations?Size?

Will do WHAT?

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 12

Prepare the farrowing facility

Prepare weaning

Perform daily monitoring (food, etc.)

Take care of the piglets

Monitor farrowingGet the sows in

WashPrepare the washing

Get sows and piglets out

Keep the hall in good condition

HOW?

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future

Prepare the farrowing facility

I install lamps, carpets, sows data sheets, I open the

gates...

Where are the lamps and carpets stored?

Loose in the storeroom. It’s far away and not practical.

Store room nearby with storage facilities

HOW?

• Alone / with others?• In the corridor / in the stall / out of the facility?• Sitting / standing?• With a trolley?• Need for electricity? Lighting?

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 14

Provide care to the piglets

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 15

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 16

In conclusion

• Take into account the needs of the individuals concerned

• Be familiar with a number of practical solutions

• A profitable investment in the long term

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 17

Thank you for your attention.

Lille - 22 to 24 February 2017Livestock housing: let's build the future 18