Jen-Yun Chou – This is Part 2 of the ‘Barn Insights Series’, which focuses on practical solutions to group sow housing. In this second part, Jen-Yun describes her visit to Dave DeVries’ sow barn in Ontario. They use a floor feeding system. In Dave’s barn, sow aggression is minimal. Four days after the sows are bred, they are moved to the group pens, which consist of around 25 to 30 sows per pen. Feed drops are on a timer, and they drop feed 6 times per day. The pens are two-thirds solid and one-third slatted flooring. For Dave, the three factors of success to group sow housing are being open-minded, watching the animals while walking the pens and good genetics. Dave has demonstrated that floor feeding can work, when it is done right.
