Innovation Fund
Current Innovation and Field Trial projects
Click on a project below to find out more
- Evaluation of Cash Poultry Killer (CPK) on outdoor piglets over 5kg bred for food – Easey Herds Ltd.
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Feeding outdoor sows using electronic sow feeders (ESF) – Anna’s Happy Trotters
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Computerised ad-lib feeding of indoor lactating sows – Ermine Farms Ltd.
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Alternative methods of delivering fresh clean water to outdoor sows – BQP
- Strip grazing farrowing paddocks – A. Hayward & Son
- Development of a standard AI area for outdoor production – the ‘AI Pod’ – Easey Pigs and Rattlerow Farms
- Monitoring of outdoor farrowing paddocks to identify causes of piglet mortality – Easey Pigs
- Maximising the value of data collected from recording systems commonly used on pig farms in England – Sanne Baden, Pig Improvements
- Outdoor Farrowing Tent – Kings Fene Farm
- The benefits to performance, health & COP through effective feed delivery
Evaluation of Cash Poultry Killer (CPK) on outdoor piglets over 5kg bred for food – Easey Herds Ltd.
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 6 months +
Aims and objectives
- To establish a practical, mechanical and repeatable method of humanely dispatching casualty pigs to prevent further avoidable distress to all concerned
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To evaluate the short-bolt captive bolt stunner system for ease of operation, safety, and effective humane euthanasia of piglets from 0-5kg and potentially 5-15kg
The current method of dispatch for this size of casualty animal is with a priest, full size captive bolt, or use of a shot gun. Both these methods are difficult for the operator and have health and safety issues.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- The device has proved successful on piglets up to 5kg
- Stock people have reported that the device is it is easy to use
- The producer has designed a “V” shaped restrainer to hold the piglets in place
- An application to Defra has been submitted by BPEX and Easey Herds Ltd. for permission to use the device on piglets up to 15kg; Red Tractor Assurance has expressed a positive response to this application
Application to industry
- A standard operating procedure will be produced at the end of the project with the help of the pig veterinary team and Humane Slaughter Association
- A practical, mechanical and repeatable method of humanely dispatching casualty pigs from 5-15kg to prevent further avoidable distress to all concerned will hopefully be established.
Feeding outdoor sows using electronic sow feeders (ESF) – Anna’s Happy Trotters
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 12 months
This project will incorporate: ‘Evaluating the practice of weighing gilts at 2 stages of their cycle for identifying gilts most at risk from a 2nd litter drop, and so depressed lifetime performance’.
The project intends to demonstrate that the technology of ESFs, long proven in feeding indoor sows, can be successfully adapted and deployed onto outdoor systems.
Benefits from ESF on outdoor herds may include
- More efficient feed usage
- Reduced feed manufacturing/ration costs
- Reduced soil compaction
- Reduced vermin activity and potential disease spread
Project achievements
- The ESF has been adapted to outdoor conditions with wireless communication from the feeder to the main computer
- Sows have been trained to use the feeder
- Data collection has commenced.
Computerised ad-lib feeding of indoor lactating sows – Ermine Farms Ltd.
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 12 months
There are two objectives to this project:
a) To demonstrate whether controlled feeding (toward ad-lib feeding post week 1) of lactating sows in a conventional farrowing system can increase feed intakes and subsequent piglet weaning weight and sow performance
b) To compare sow feed levels acheived in the conventional farrowing crate pen on the controlled feeding system to sow feed-levels in 8 ‘pig-safe’ free-farrowing pens, and subsequent effect on weaning weight and sow performance
Envisaged value to the industry
To focus on the benefits of correct farrowing house feeding and capture the feed patterns of sows of different parities to demonstrate what total quantities per lactation a sow is capable of consuming. If there is an increased feed intake in lactation, then to demonstrate whether there are benefits to the litter weight and subsequent sow performance. The project will also hopefully demonstrate whether there is a production value in total litter weaning weight from free farrowing pens.
To find alternative methods of delivering fresh clean water to outdoor sows – BQP
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 12 months
The objective of the trial is to find another method of offering water to outdoor sows with the additional benefits of it being clean fresh water, rather than a wallow trough which can become contaminated.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- The project has been extended due to sows being moved to a new field as part of the rotation
- As troughs were thoroughly cleaned during the move, the results will be initially unrepresentative of a ‘typical’ trough which has been in situ for some time, hence the extension to the project
- Production data from both the system on trial and typical wallow troughs is being recorded, including weaner weights
- Early results suggest an improvement in pig performance from the system on trial but final results are being awaited before any firm conclusions can be made.
Hopefully this project will demonstrate how an alternative method of delivering water to outdoor sows can improve conception rates, born alive numbers and weaning weights in outdoor sows.
Strip grazing farrowing paddocks – A.Hayward & Son
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 12 months
The objectives of the project are to demonstrate that strip grazing farrowing paddocks through moving individual farrowing pens onto fresh ground for each litter will contribute to improved litter performance.
Individual farrow pens are widely used on outdoor systems to provide greater control of outdoor farrowing, improving litter management day to day and reducing stress at weaning for both pigs and staff.
Most outdoor units see a production boost when they move sites. The proposed strip grazing system seeks to mimic this benefit on a longer term basis
The trial proposes to establish 30 individual farrowing paddocks (25 to 30m square) using plastic sheeted hurdles representing one weeks farrowing on the unit. These arcs and hurdled paddocks will be moved after every batch onto clean land which is grassed. The land the paddocks have moved off will then be left for grass to regenerate or be redrilled.
The trial will run for 12 months covering 8 batches and will also monitor sow feed intake coupled with sow condition, farrowing performance and ultimately pigs weaned, coupled with weaner weights.
The trial will also assess how quickly land can be reused and therefore opportunities to reduce overall land usage.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
The project has been delayed due to the unfavourable weather conditions, however, the equipment has been made and is due to be installed during Spring 2014.
The envisaged cost/benefit to the industry is as follows:
- Improved performance from retention of production boost from clean land
- Easier day to day management
- Improved land management, better uptake of nutrients through rested/regenerated grassland
- By rotating pens on the same land, whole site movement may extend to perhaps one in six years rather than perhaps every 2 to 3 years
Development of a standard AI area for outdoor production – the ‘AI Pod’ – Easey Pigs and Rattlerow Farms
Type of project: Field Trial
Project duration: 24 months
Reproductive performance from the outdoor sector has stubbornly remained at a sub optimal level. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which, as feedback from the industry has demonstrated, is a need for a well-designed AI area. This trial has involved designing a new AI area which will provide the correct environment for the sow during heat detection and insemination, whilst conferring a high degree of labour efficiency and resultant reduction in time required per insemination period. In addition the AI Pod has been designed to be easily dismantled and transported when the herd site is being moved.
Aims and objectives
- To design a new AI area which will provide the correct environment for the sow during heat detection and insemination, while conferring a high degree of labour efficiency and resultant reduction in time required per insemination period
- To place the first AI Pod with a producer identified by Paul Dack, as one requiring input in its operation in the form of a well-designed AI area
- To place the second AI Pod onto a unit from the Rattlerow pyramid that achieves above average results; this is to evaluate the true potential of the AI Pod and develop the daily operational protocols
- To promote the AI Pod by training producers how to use the system correctly and demonstrating the advantages of a bespoke AI area.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- Sows are calmer in the new AI area
- Gilts readily adapt to the system
- The system makes it much easier to differentiate whether sows/gilts are showing standing heat or not, so it should mean that heat detection and timing of service is more accurate
- During the wet winter period, the sows did not come onto heat as well as the rest of the year and have been more difficult to handle in the AI Pod as a result; we are waiting to see what litter sizes from this period are.
Rattlerow Farms Ltd. news (Oct 2013): AI innovation could aid performance in outdoor herds
Monitoring of outdoor farrowing paddocks to identify causes of piglet mortality – Easey Pigs
Type of project: Field Trial
Project duration: 12 months
Over 40% of the national herd is outside but as an industry we have no verifiable data about predation. What is known is that having a ‘fox problem’ can increase mortality anywhere between 2-10% in a batch but we have never done any proper trials to assess the true cause. By observing predation behaviour and making pictures and data freely available to the industry it will hopefully lead to the development of effective ways of preventing the problem from occurring.
Aims and objectives
- To identify the causes of piglet predation, eg foxes, badgers, dogs
- To quantify the scale of predation
- To monitor the effect predation has on sow and piglet behaviour
- To identify an appropriate and efficient control strategy.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- It has been difficult to establish a workable balance between the high tech equipment needed for accurate video footage with the unfavourable environmental conditions and set-up on farm
- Filming has been restricted to a limited area of the farrowing paddocks due to the restrictions of getting power to the extensive site
- Halfway through the trial the project was reviewed and the cameras were re-positioned to try and improve the chances of capturing fox activity on video
- The next stage of the trial will be to move the equipment to another unit where accessibility to resources, eg power is better
- Lessons learned to date: Conduct a site visit with an expert/technician before purchasing any equipment, to ensure that resources, environmental conditions and equipment will be compatible
- The trial is currently inconclusive but more data should be available during 2014.
See the CCTV project photo story here
Maximising the value of data collected from recording systems commonly used on pig farms in England – Sanne Baden, Pig Improvements
Type of project: Field Trial
Project duration: 12 months
Performance recording and spending time understanding data helps pinpoint which changes could make the biggest difference to pig performance and cutting costs. All businesses can benefit from spending time understanding trends and patterns in herd performance data as well as establishing what information is most useful to observe on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.
Aims and objectives
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To establish data accuracy and correct inputting of performance data into recording systems
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To work with farm staff to make full use of management reports from recording systems and to build the use of these into the daily routine
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To evaluate key performance indicators against national averages and identify key areas of focus for the herd
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To analyse performance data on an ongoing basis to monitor the effectiveness of interventions.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- Six farms participated in the trial and received quarterly visits to analyse and make best use of farm data
- There are some performance areas, such as pre-weaning mortality, that several producers found they needed to focus on.
The key points which this trial has highlighted as crucial to maximising the value of data collected from recording systems, are:
- Recording the right data: The first step is to make sure all staff are recording data accurately and that what is actually happening in the herd is reflected in the data itself
- Running regular reports: Sanne Baden has worked with producers in the project to help interpret their existing reports and has also suggested new reports that are useful, which producers may not have been aware of before
- Benchmarking: Before you can set realistic targets, it is sometimes helpful to know what other producers in the industry are doing and what is typical in similar systems
- Target setting: This is central to achieving overall performance objectives, it is essential that all targets are realistic and that everybody knows what is expected of them
- Check progress and monitor interventions: Vets, nutritionists, breeding company representatives and staff are all important to include when working out the cause of a performance issue and what steps can be taken to address it.
Outdoor Farrowing Tent –
Kings Fene Farm
Type of project: Field Trial
Project duration: 12 months
The objective of this field trial is to increase the production potential of outdoor farrowing by providing more control at farrowing time. This should convert into a lower pre-weaning mortality and provide a better environment for the staff to work in at this crucial time.
Project achievements during 2013-2014
- This trial has been extended and is therefore ongoing
- The producer has reported that he is saving up to 50% in terms of straw usage compared with his traditional arcs; this is due to the tent being sited on better ground and not in very wet areas as is sometimes the case with the row of arcs, as there is usually a wetter spot in most fields
- The farrowing tent is currently situated on the perimeter of a paddock for ease of access for the stockmen and time saving on bedding up
- The producer is weighing the piglets coming out of both the farrowing tent and the arcs to see what, if any, difference there is between weaning weights.
The benefits to performance, health & COP through effective feed delivery – Compton Pigs
Type of project: Innovation Fund
Project duration: 12 months (due to commence March 2014)
Aims and objectives
- To trial easy access ‘feed windows’ within the back of modified dry sow arcs
- To determine whether performance, health and COP can be improved through effective feed delivery
The innovative aspect of this trial is the easy access feed window which sits within the back of the modified dry sow arc. As the feeder pulls up, the arm touches the release lever on the window and allows part of the ration to be blown into hut 1, hut 2 receives its full ration before returning to hut 1 to deliver the remainder.
Because the inside of the hut is nice and dry there is no feed wastage or competition for feed as the sows have established a natural order which allows the correct feed curve to be followed.
The plan is to place the modified huts in alternate pens to allow us to run a comparison trial with huts that don’t have the easy access window so these sows will be ground fed as normal. By doing this we can gauge the impact of feed wastage, birds etc.
Application to industry
By supplying modified dry sow arcs with easy access feed windows it is hoped that the following positive outcomes will be seen:
- Less aggression, as sows are not having to seek out the feed in mud
- A significant reduction in feed wastage, as it will save around 20kg per pen per day (140kg per pen per week)
- A large reduction in bird activity, as the birds won’t be able to get to the food
- A potential health benefit, as the beds will be cleaner
- Cleaner beds should lead to a reduction in straw usage
- With sows/gilts consuming the right levels of feed there is potential for improved BA and litter size.
Page last updated 19-Jun-2014
