The feed stations will lie empty for a large proportion of the day. This is an essential feature of the system to allow sows to feed at any time. Producers should not be tempted to add more sows to the system. Pre-access Gate This involves the use of an electronically operated gate which identifies the sow's transponder and prevents sows which have already fed entering the feeding area. This option may increase the throughput of the feeder and may reduce levels of aggression associated with dominant sows revisiting the feed station but will increase the capital cost, although wear and tear on the feed station will be reduced.
Some producers consider the pre-access gate to be an essential feature.
Two Yard Layout Sows pass from yard 1 to yard 2 via the feed station with no return facility. This has the advantage that when a sow has fed she has no further access to the feed station. More dominant sows pass through the feed station leaving the timid ones easier access later on. At the start of the feed cycle sows are moved into yard 1. During the day they pass through the feeder to yard 2.