Recycle Used Gestation Crates into Group-Housed Sow Feeding Stalls

Project Overview

FW04-021
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2004: $6,300.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2006
Region: Western
State: Oregon
Principal Investigator:
Deanna Quan
Email

Commodities

  • Animals: swine

Practices

  • Animal Production: animal protection and health, feed rations, housing
  • Education and Training: demonstration, extension
  • Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, value added
  • Production Systems: holistic management

    Proposal summary:

    This project will test individual swine feeding stalls made from recycled gestation crates for use in group-housed sow operations. Each gestation crate comes with a waterer, feed trough and rear door. By feeding sows in individual stalls, feed intake can be adjusted according to each sow’s needs to optimize body condition and eliminate waste feed. Fetal loss, which can occur when sows fight at feeding time, should be greatly reduced, and the opportunity for artificial insemination enhanced. Recycling used gestation crates also saves on nonrenewable resources. The reduced costs and improved profits of such a system, says producer Deanna Quan, could make this a more appealing choice over factory farms with their confined facilities and waste lagoons.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.