Patent ID: 7178484

Claim:
A farrowing pen for sows comprising: a pit for manure having a pit floor and pit sides with side floor portions above the pit on each side of the pit; a floor assembly for receiving the sow and piglets which includes a first floor portion on which the sow can stand and lie and two second floor portions each on a respective side of the first floor portion for receiving piglets of the sow; the first floor portion and the two second floor portions being arranged to span the pit; confining walls for locating the sow on the first floor portion; a support element for the first floor portion; the support element including a base member and a lift mechanism carried on the base member, operated by a power source, arranged to raise and lower the first floor portion relative to the base member between a lowered position in which the first floor portion is at a generally common height with the second floor portions to allow the piglets to access the first floor portion and the sow thereon and a raised position in which the first floor portion is at a height above the second floor portions sufficient to prevent the piglets on the second floor portions from accessing the first floor portion; and a sensor responsive to movement of the sow tending to stand to actuate the lift mechanism to operate the lift mechanism; the support element comprising a frame mounted on each of the side floor portions on respective sides of the pit so as to span the pit; the frame being mounted so as to extend underneath the first floor portion; the frame supporting the base member therefrom at a position underlying the first floor portion and overlying the pit such that the base member is free from support from the floor of the pit.