Selecting Sows
Selecting and Marking of sows
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 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.
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