English
Danish
French
Swedish
Vietnamese
Spanish
German
Polish
English
Finishers
Efficient pig production from weaning to market
The finisher unit is where pigs spend the final stage of their growth before leaving the farm. The objective is to provide a stable production environment that supports healthy pigs, efficient feed utilisation and practical daily management.
Good finisher production depends on several elements working together. Pen design, feeding, water, flooring, ventilation, climate and hygiene all contribute to the conditions in which pigs grow.
SKIOLD combines these elements into complete finisher solutions designed around the farm, the pigs and the way the unit is operated.
A pen environment designed for growing pigs
As pigs grow, their requirements for space and the physical environment change.
A well-designed finisher pen should give pigs enough space to move, rest and interact, while providing easy access to feed and water. The layout should also support separation between resting and dunging areas and make the unit practical to inspect and clean.
EFSA identifies reduced space, poor floor quality, poor ventilation and inadequate management among factors that can contribute to welfare problems in growing pigs. Good housing design therefore needs to consider the interaction between space, flooring, climate, feeding and management rather than treating them separately.
SKIOLD offers different penning concepts for finishers, allowing the layout to be adapted to group size, building dimensions, feeding principle and manure handling.
Feeding for efficient growth
Feed is one of the most important factors in finisher production.
The feeding system should provide reliable access to feed while allowing the feeding strategy to follow the pigs' development. Feed distribution, feeder capacity and the number of feeding points all need to be considered together with group size and pen layout.
SKIOLD offers dry and liquid feeding systems for finisher production.
Dry feeding can be supplied through systems such as TransPork and Maximat feeders, while liquid feeding can be designed as part of a complete automated feeding system.
Where phase feeding is used, feed composition and allocation can be adapted as pigs progress through the finishing period.
The right feeding concept depends on the farm's feed strategy, herd size, building layout and desired level of automation.
Water where pigs need it
Reliable access to drinking water is an essential part of a well-functioning finisher unit.
Drinkers should be easy for pigs to access and positioned so that they work together with the feeding and pen layout.
SKIOLD offers drinking valves, cups and other drinking solutions that can be integrated into the pen design.
The number and positioning of drinking points should be considered in relation to group size and the overall housing concept.
Climate and ventilation for growing pigs
Growing pigs produce increasing amounts of heat as they become heavier.
The ventilation system therefore needs to adapt to changing animal loads and outdoor conditions while maintaining appropriate air quality and temperature.
Poor ventilation and high concentrations of harmful gases can contribute to welfare problems, while excessive air speed can increase the risk of cold stress. EFSA identifies ventilation, air quality and temperature as relevant factors in the welfare of growing pigs.
SKIOLD provides complete climate solutions for finisher units, including ventilation, heating, cooling and climate control.
The system can be designed around the building, stocking level, climate and ventilation principle, with the possibility of adapting ventilation as the pigs grow.
Flooring that supports the production environment
Flooring has to perform several jobs in a finisher unit.
It should provide a suitable surface for the pigs while supporting hygiene, manure handling and practical cleaning. The design of slatted and solid areas also influences how pigs use the pen.
EFSA identifies poor floor quality as one of the factors that can contribute to welfare problems, including foot and leg problems and tail biting.
SKIOLD offers flooring solutions that can be combined with different penning and manure systems.
The right combination depends on the housing concept, building design, climate and cleaning strategy.
Hygiene built into the design
A clean and well-maintained finisher unit is important for efficient production and good animal welfare.
Pen design should make it possible to remove manure effectively and clean surfaces without unnecessary obstacles. Smooth, durable materials and practical access can make everyday cleaning and maintenance easier.
The design should also support good hygiene between batches, with the possibility of cleaning and preparing the unit before the next group of pigs enters.
SKIOLD considers penning, flooring, manure handling and access together when designing finisher units.
Designed for efficient daily management
The finisher unit should be easy to operate.
Staff need good visibility of the pigs and straightforward access for inspection, treatment, cleaning and maintenance. Feeders, drinkers, gates and other equipment should be positioned so that daily routines can be carried out efficiently.
Automation can reduce repetitive work and provide greater control over feeding and climate.
SKIOLD combines feeding, ventilation and control systems to create solutions that support both automated operation and practical management.
A complete finisher solution
There is no single finisher layout that suits every farm.
The right solution depends on:
- Number and size of pigs
- Group size and stocking strategy
- Building dimensions
- Dry or liquid feeding
- Phase feeding strategy
- Flooring and manure system
- Ventilation and heating requirements
- Climate and local conditions
- Labour and daily routines
- Desired level of automation
SKIOLD brings these factors together when planning the finisher unit.
By considering penning, feeding, water, flooring and climate as one solution, the equipment can be designed to work together rather than as separate installations.
From weaners to finishers
The transition from the weaner unit to finishing should be considered as part of the overall production flow.
As pigs grow, their space requirements, feed intake, heat production and environmental requirements change. The housing and feeding systems should therefore be designed to accommodate these changes.
SKIOLD can provide solutions across the production cycle, from weaning to finishing, with feeding, penning, climate and management considered as part of the overall farm concept.
Real farms. Proven solutions.
SKIOLD solutions are used in finisher production on farms with different production systems and scales.
Civagaard – Denmark
Civagaard manages the complete production chain from weaners to finishers, with SKIOLD supplying feeding, ventilation and alarm systems across the farms.
VPF Group – Thailand
A large-scale pig production operation using SKIOLD liquid feeding solutions for finisher and sow production, with a focus on efficiency, reliability and ease of use.
Looking for the right finisher solution?
Whether you are planning a new finisher unit, expanding an existing farm or upgrading your current production, SKIOLD can help you develop a solution around your pigs, buildings and production goals.
From penning and feeding to ventilation, climate and management, we connect the individual elements into one complete solution.
Contact us to discuss your project