August, 2018

We explain a simple and easy method for cleaning creep feeders.

Currently, the most common creep feeders for piglets used in the farrowing pens are round. They are OK, as being round they favour socialisation, because the piglets eat together, and they see each other whilst they eat, and this stimulates their appetite further. This improves even more if they are located near the sow’s head: a Dutch study shows that the piglets eat more feed if the creep feeder is located there. Once the piglets have been weaned, the farrowing rooms and all their contents must be cleaned. The creep feeders must be removed from the farrowing rooms for a good cleaning. But, where shall we put them?

A simple, quick and easy way of cleaning the creep feeders is to submerge them in a 200-liter barrel. To prepare a barrel (who does not have one of these large resistant plastic drums on their farm?) we shall cut off its upper part, leaving a wide opening so we can introduce the creep feeders easily. We shall fill it with water and add the soap used for cleaning the farrowing rooms: 1 glass of soap per 200 litres of water. We shall leave the creep feeders soaking for some hours and, we will rinse them with water and they will be ready to be used again.

Telma Vieira Tucci