Every management system has its own advantages and
problems. Our stockpersons generally find the ESF sows
more difficult to locate prior to farrowing but easier to
move to farrowing. We encountered lameness problems
in the ESF pens. We attributed these to dunging on the
solid floor and the failure of feces to work through the
slats, leading to slippery conditions. We addressed these
by changing to solid penning between lying areas and
adding sprinklers over the slats. The problem has been
largely resolved. In our case lameness in the ESF system
was due to poor management within that system rather
than the system itself. Once managed properly, the problem
disappeared. We identified animal flow problems
within the ESF system when we increased the number of
gilts being brought in for another study. We had to modify
our training procedures to accommodate this challenge.
Again, as in any system, problems need to be identified
and corrective action must be taken.
The greatest production difference observed