Fast and accurate paddock pig feeding keeps sows in good condition
Greater accuracy with feeding outdoor sows is crucial for pig conditioning, productivity and overall herd profitability.
The new 3T Easy-feed trailer from Con-Tented Products now gives pig farmers’ greater control in delivering precise feed rates, direct into feed troughs and other feed hoppers. Metering feed into ad-lib hoppers is also a valuable tool for monitoring feed intakes and consumption.
Norfolk outdoor pig farmer and Con-Tented consultant, Rob McGregor, advocates over the past winter he’s sought to add 0.25kg per day for sow feed rates for every 5⁰C fall from the average.
“When wind chill has driven temperatures down to as low as -12⁰C, for example, combined with feed losses in snowy weather and an increase in bird feeding in cold weather, up to 1kg/day could be required,” he advises. “Having the capability to make incremental changes in sow feed rates on a day-to-day basis is a real benefit to keeping them performing.”
With the 3T Easy-feed trailer controlled from an electronic dashboard in the tractor cab, operators can simply adjust the overall weigh of feed to be distributed and the speed of discharge, to deliver an accurate and consistent pre-defined feed rate, according to pig specialist, Jamie Macdonald of Con-Tented Products.
“If the operator wants to increase feed rates in cold weather, for example, or if sow numbers in the field change, that can be instantly adjusted to the desired amount,” he advises. “The control box can be quickly calibrated for different feed batches and capable of feeding cobs, nuts or meal.”
Precision metred mechanical feeding in paddocks with the 3-T Easy-feed also enables quicker and more even distribution along an extended run of troughs, compared to conventional systems.
“Rapid discharge of feed in outdoor paddocks avoids the mele that ensues at the start of the feeding, particularly in larger groups,” says Jamie. “That means sows can naturally spread out along the troughs to get their share, with less bullying and over-eating of some, at the expense of other more timid sows.”
Jamie also highlights that where sows can be quickly fed along an extended line of troughs, it also gives more time and space for the stockperson to inspect animals while they are eating, or to carry out other jobs in the paddock.
Like all renowned Con-Tented Products for pig farmers, the 3T Easy-feed is built for a long-life in the field. It features a strong purpose-designed and engineered fully galvanised chassis, made in the UK.
It’s low-profile design easily fits under feed store hoppers to refill. The drawbar design and configuration also make it easy to manoeuvre around paddocks and gateways. Shod with super-wide flotation tyres, the trailer has an incredibly light footprint on the soil, even when fully loaded and working in wet conditions.
The robust 3-tonne plastic hopper is opaque to give a good view of the amount of feed loaded or remaining during operation The tank is water-tight for wet weather operation, or if mud needs to be power-washed off between feeding pig batches for biosecurity, without contaminating feed.
Con-Tented Products, owned by Techneat Engineering in Cambridgeshire, design and manufacture a range of innovative and quality products for the pig industry.
With years of experience in plastic manufacturing and metal fabrication, it has created a portfolio of products designed to increase productivity and profit, focused on protecting the welfare of pigs. Products are proven through extensive field trials to out-perform traditional equipment, providing benefits to the pig and farmer alike.
Con-Tented Products will be on show at the Cereals Event on Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in June – including the revolutionary Clarkson’s Ring; designed in conjunction with Jeremy and Kaleb Cooper to protect newborn piglets in the farm’s Con-Tented farrowing arks.
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