Pigtek – advanced ad-Lib lactation feeder for sows
The Pigtek Pig Equipment Group now offers sow producers an advanced ad-lib lactation feeder. Sold under the Pigtek brand, the patented feeder is new to the line of sow care products offered by the company.
The Pigtek Ad-Lib Lactation Feeder was developed to enable a sow to eat as much feed as her daily ration program permits. This ad libitum feeding system provides pig producers a better way to manage their nursing sows to help maximise both piglet growth and sow feed intake. The system also aids the sow by providing the feed needed for maintaining body condition in preparation for the next litter.
Sow care professionals can fill these lactation feeders automatically or manually to match their sow management style. The ad-lib feeder has an optional stainless steel hopper available to hold up to 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). This option can be used for manual dispensing of feed to help the producer save labor and limit the number of trips through the room with a feed cart. However, producers can potentially save even more labor and time using one of PigTek’s Chore-Time Feed Delivery Systems for filling the lactation feeders automatically.
Designed to function as a metered feeding system, the Pigtek Ad-Lib Lactation Feeder requires the sow to actuate the feeder to dispense the feed. The sow can eat as much as she wants of her specific daily feed ration. The system also keeps feed fresh while helping to eliminate the potential of underfeeding the provided ration.
This Pigtek feeder has a simple, robust design that consists of three components and just one moving part. The feeder can be quickly disassembled for cleaning and is easy to mount in most farrowing stalls. Additionally, the feeder is independent from the sow’s water supply which helps to prevent moisture from entering the feed channel and plugging the feeder.
The Pigtek Ad-Lib Lactation Feeder also offers options to aid producers when limit-feeding sows:
• A clear, indexed feed tube option assists producers in quickly and accurately verifying the amount of feed being fed.
• PigTek’s Dosflow Volumetric Drop Feeder or the Chore-Time Portion Control Drop Feeder are available for producers to use in accurately dispensing a pre-determined amount of feed multiple times per day.
