CallMatic2

How To

Choose a topic:

1. How to Feed
2. How to Select and Mark Sows
3. How to Train Gilts
4. How to Structure Groups
5. How to Design Barns

1. How to Feed

Basic feeding procedure       

• A sow may enter the station when the entrance door is open.
• As she passes a light barrier, the entrance door is shut behind her automatically.         

• The sow is identified at the trough by the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) ear tag.
        

• If the sow is entitled to feed, the flap covering the trough opens and small feed portions are dispensed into the trough until she has eaten her total ration or until she leaves on her own. She can then pick up her remaining ration at another visit.        

 
Feed trough made of stainless steel with open/closed flap        

• If the identified sow is not entitled to feed (because she has already eaten her complete ration), the trough flap stays shut and the entrance door is reopened        

• The next sow may now enter and drive out the sow in the station.
        

Sows can enter feeding station any time of day        

If a sow has not eaten her entire ration for that day already, the trough flap will open and feed is dispensed.        

Feed is dispensed in small portions        

Sows can call for small amounts of feed several times a day or they can eat their total ration for the day all at once. Thus, should a sow not have a big appetite or not want her entire daily ration at once, she can leave and return to call for her remaining ration later.        

Advantage: the next sow to enter the station will never obtain larger amounts of feed from the previous sow because the portions of a single dosage are only between 3 and 4 ounces (80 – 120g) big.        

Water is dispensed with every portion of feed
To make feed intake easier and more pleasant for sows, a small amount of water is dispensed into the trough with every feed dosage.        

Mineral dispenser
This optional device is used to mix and feed minerals, vitamins, prophylactics andmedication or other feed additives in pulverized form.
It is installed on top of the feeding station.        

2. How to Select and Mark Sows                           » Back to Top

CallMatic 2 will take over sow management functions such as selecting – and separating sows from the group.          

Reasons for selection can be, for example, to check or treat animals or to have them leave the group. The various reasons are defined and controlled by the CallMatic software.          

Selection can be carried out in 3 different ways:          

1. by selecting animals into selection zone without color marking
2. by selecting animals into selection zone with color marking
3. by color marking the animals without separating them from the group    

When using the CallMatic 2 selection unit (optional), the sows can be selected into a separate selection pen or into the central aisle.
By shutting aisle gates, sows from different groups will not get mixed up.
The animals can then be checked and/or treated and released back into their groups.          

Barn with central aisle used as selecting zone          

Procedure:
After identification at the trough, the sow will receive feed like usual but at the same time, the selection gate will swing to the other side, opening the way out to the selection pen or isle.          

The entrance door will not open for the next sow to enter until the selected sow has left the station and the selection gate has swung back into its normal position.          

At the time of selection, sows can also be color-marked with one of 3 colors in the spray marker. Then, if you are selecting sows for different reasons the same day,
you will easily identify the reason for selection by the 3 colors (or no color) on the sow.          

Color marking can also be used to reveal sows, which have lost their ear tag or could not be identified for some reason.          

CallMatic spray marker on feeding station          

If a heat detection unit has been installed in the barn, sows that have been recognized as being in heat can also be color marked directly at the heat detection unit.          

3. How to Train Gilts                                        » Back to Top

Training gilts to use the station is a very important management step because the success of ESF depends on proper training of the animals. Big Dutchman suggests the following safety and training measures:          

Suggestions for training gilts:           

• Plan enough time for training; the learning process will take a few days.
• Always stay calm and patient!
  Animals register nervous and hectic actions – avoid negative associations with the technical unit.
• Make sure, the barn is well lighted so that the animals can properly see inside the feeding station.
• Allow the animals to get acquainted with the station playfully.
• Never use force during the training phase. Every animal must loose fear naturally.
• Arrange your training pen in such a way that you can modify the size of the ‘feeding’ and ‘resting’ areas. When the majority of gilts have found feed and gone through the station, you can decrease the feeding area in order to move gilts in closer to the station. Thus the animals will more likely “look into” and “deal” with the situation.    
  Only if a gilt has not entered the station within 36 hours, should you try to gently urge her into the unit. It may be helpful to open the side panels of the unit      

Layout of the training pen          

Place training station into the middle of the pen.          

Arrange a movable partition to divide pen into a feeding and a resting area. This way you are able to reduce the area in front of the entrance gate to encourage the more fearful sows to examine the unit.          

For the next feeding cycle and training phase, the partitions are rearranged to let the sows back into the feeding area (see illustration)
          

Illustration: Training pen for one or two separate groups of gilts.          

The entrance guide panel of the CallMatic 2 feeding station will let gilts enter the station from one or the other side (or group).
The movable pen dividers (partitions) allow you to move gilts closer to the entrance of the station, if needed.          

Technical settings for training          

Pase 1:      • entrance gate open
                   • exit gate partly open
                   • trough flap open
                   • feed already in the trough
                   • selection gate closed          

Gilts learn that the feeding station is a passage way with an exit and where there is feed inside.          

Phase 2:     • same as phase 1 but entrance gate is in normal mode          

Since the exit gate is still partly open, gilts are confident, there is a way where to leave or “escape” the feeding station. At the same time, they learn to lose their fear of the entrance gate closing on them.          

Phase 3:     • same as phase 2 but exit gate is in normal mode          

Since sows already know, where the exit is, they will learn how to open it from inside.          

Phase 4:     • same as phase 3 but trough flap is shut.          

Since sows already know where the feed is dispensed, they will stand in front of the trough and wait for something to happen. Then the trough will open with identification.          

Watch your sows to determine, how long a phase should be practiced. Usually it takes ½ to1 day for each phase.     

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4. How to Structure Groups                               » Back to Top

When keeping sows in groups there are some basic management options.
Should your sows be kept in static or dynamic groups?
Can sows be grouped shortly after breeding, or should you wait until after embryonic implantation?

This website cannot supply you with the answer but our experts can definitely help you determine the best combination of animal flow and grouping strategies that promise maximum productivity and ease of use.

Group structures: Static and Dynamic groups

Animals within ESF systems can be managed as either static or dynamic social groups. With static groups, all animals enter the group on the same day and there are no additions to the groups after the initial formation. The only social changes occur if animals are removed (returning or farrowing sows). Dynamic groups have ani-mals added to the continuing group at regular intervals. Due to the frequent change of group composition, some social upsets within the group are possible but can be minimized through smart herd management. This group structure works well with large group sizes and allows for optimal space utilization in each pen.

Group formation:  pre- or post embryo implantation

There are two options for moving your sows into the group: either shortly after breeding (best when out of standing heat) or after at least 4 weeks, when implantation of the embryo is complete and the sow is confirmed pregnant. The first option, also referred to as pre-implantation grouping, has the advantage or effect, that you will need fewer crates in the  breeding barn and the sows can spend more time in the group being fed by the ESF station. The post-implantation strategy is practiced by some breeders, who feel more comfortable mixing sows after a 28 to 35 day period to avoid the risk of sows fighting during the implantation process. However there are many smart ways to limit or avoid animal aggression and hierarchy fights during group formation – our ESF experts will assist you with the signify-cant details of management transition.

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5. How to Design Barns                                       » Back to Top

When planning the layout for a new or existing gestation barn, 
consider the following specifics and options:          

1.   How big is your sow herd – how big is the farrowing group and when do you wean
      your piglets (weaning day)?
2.   How will you structure your groups? 
      → Static groups (no additions to the groups after the initial formation) or 
      → Dynamic groups (sows removed and added every few days or weeks)?
3.   Housing options: Does your farm work better with partly or fully slatted barns?  
      Even a pasture-based facility is possible.
4.   Which kind of group formation should you chose – pre or post implementation?
5.   Do you need selection pens or can you use the central isle for selection?
      When should you consider central selection?          

 
Example barn layouts     

The following are basic layout examples to show you basically, how the penning area can be designed.          

1. Gestation pen with 1 ESF feeding station for 60 sows in a static group with selection
      

 
2. Gestation pens for 6 static groups with one feeding station per group without selection
          

3. Gestation pens with 4 ESF feeding stations for approx. 250 sows in a dynamic group
   

General suggestions for planning pen gestation barns with ESF:          

Minimum suggested space requirement per sow:
Sows
Total area: 22 ft² (2.04 m2)
Resting: 14 ft² (1.3 m2 )          

Gilts
Total area: 18 ft² (1.7 m²)
Resting: 10.2 sq ft. (0.93 m²)          

1. Create resting area with dividers.    

2. The divisions (or compartments) within the resting area should be 15 x 20 ft (4.50m x 6.00m).    

3. Position CallMatic 2 feeding station in the dunging area.    

4. 12 to 16 hour feeding cycle:
     Feeding stations should not be occupied for more than 16 hours per feeding cycle (per day) 
     in order to maintain a low level of stress in ESF systems.    

5. Consequently, one station should therefore not supply more than 60-65 sows per day.
     (Some manufacturers claim, that their feeder may supply up to 80 sows per day.
     This is technically possible with all ESF stations BUT we do not support this strategy
     because increased competition of the sows will lead to injuries, stress and reduced production)    

6. When penning large groups, we recommend no more than 195 sows feeding at 3 stations
     per group. Larger numbers will make physical management of the group very difficult.    

7. Room temperature should be kept at 59° to 64.5° F (15°-18°C)          

Our team of experts will help you design a barn and ESF system ideally suited to your facilities and management possibilities.