no trials are performed. In practice, however, ongoing trials are being done, and everywhere through the buildings sensors can be spotted to measure e.g. climate, ventilation, feed intake and water usage. On-site, for instance, a group of researchers is collecting randomised blood samples from young piglets, to identify effects of feed ingredients in serum. Another set of technical experts checks every sensor to make sure all results obtained are valid. The dry sow building consists of two sections with crates, for insemination and the first few days in gestation, up to about a month. The remainder consists of two sections with in total four Electronic Sow Feeding (ESF) stations, with built-in weighing equipment, produced by Gerionte, a Spanish company. A sow sluice leads to the second building, with both farrowing and nursery rooms. There are 12 lactation rooms, housing 12 sows each, in pens that are slightly larger than conventional. In addition, there are seven nursery rooms, with 24 pens each for roughly five to eight pigs. About 13,000 piglets/year stay here until a weight of around 20-25 kg (60-70 days), after which they are sold to commercial farms. The amount of 24 pens is not chosen by accident. Piñeiro explains, “This way we can do trials in whichever amounts that are desired. We can create 12 groups of two, eight of three, six of four etcetera.” Four rooms are equipped with four different water supply lines leading to the pens. This is a way to test several liquid solutions to the pigs, explains Piñeiro, but it also helps to learn about piglet water intake as well. Piñeiro says, “Things are not happening as you might expect. What we see is that straight after weaning, piglets not only have to learn how to eat, they also have to learn how to drink from a nipple! And once they drink, there’s not a steady flow either. They usually start drinking in the morning until they are completely full and then leave the drinker again.”
Animal health As the example with the rats already showed, health and bios- ecurity do take an important place at the research farm. This is reinforced by the presence of a fence, a strict and separate showering regime before entering either section of the farm as well as a complete change of clothes. As a result,
Here all information is gathered on the air quality in the newer part of the farm. The infrared photoacoustic field gas monitor is con- nected to each of the five rooms inside this barn.
the newer farm building is completely PRRS-free. From a research perspective, however, animal health is not the main focus of research. Piñeiro says, “I could think of two occasions in which ani- mal health plays a role,” he says. “Firstly, we could serve as a control location in a wider trial. Secondly, it does happen that E. coli is found on the farm. In those rare occasions we just look at it as an opportunity and use it to figure out how infected piglets react to certain therapies.”
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The perfect start in every system! PIG PROGRESS VOLUME 32, No. 6, 2016 19
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