Lower Saxon pig farming specialist WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp GmbH has equipped the “Arche Wilhelminenhof” farm with new Be.Well pens
The Be.Well concept stands for products which focus on the well-being and health of the pigs and facilitate economic and safe working at the same time. The order for the organic operation from Bakum included a reconstruction of pens in an open wooden house with roaming space.
“The individual pens are separated by gates. For cleaning purposes, we constructed the gates in a way that facilitates opening the gates to the side and mounting them to the wall,” explained WEDA head of development Ralf Meyer. “The gates can be easily lifted out of the straw and opened and closed in both directions. Subsequently, the manure can be pushed away with one movement,” Meyer added.
The farrowing pen is designed in an open and clearly structured way, with the piglet nest and trough located at the corridor. If necessary, it is possible to restrain the sow for a short time for treatment purposes without necessitating a worker to enter the sowing area. The grid used to restrain the sow for short periods of time serves to separate the piglet nest when open. Furthermore, the pen also facilitates short-term sow restraining to tend to the piglets. And the highlight of it all: the sow can still use the roaming area and the feeding area.
With the new Be.Well concept, WEDA is set to meet the industry demand for product solutions which ensure animal welfare and animal protection. Accordingly, the products are suited equally for conventional and organic animal farming. The “Arche Wilhelminenhof” farm is operated according to Demeter guidelines and the principle of civic agriculture. Besides pig farming, the family business operates its own farm shop and also cultivates fruits and vegetables.
