Mating & Gestation

Well-designed housing for healthy sows, efficient workflows and reliable reproduction

Mating and gestation are key stages in sow production. The way these areas are designed affects animal welfare, feeding, reproduction, hygiene and the daily work of the people running the farm.

A well-planned mating and gestation solution should therefore do more than provide housing. It should create a safe and functional environment for the sows while supporting efficient routines, accurate feeding and good control of the herd.

SKIOLD combines penning, feeding, water, flooring, climate and digital management into integrated solutions designed around the needs of each farm.

Designing the right environment for sows

Modern mating and gestation units need to accommodate both the biological needs of the sow and the practical requirements of the farm.

For group-housed sows, good pen design is particularly important. Sows need sufficient space to move, rest and interact, while the layout should provide reliable access to feed and water and reduce unnecessary competition and aggression.

The European Food Safety Authority identifies group stress, restriction of movement, prolonged hunger, locomotory disorders and soft-tissue injuries among the important welfare consequences that need to be considered for dry sows and gilts. Good mixing practices, appropriate pen design and feeding systems that protect individual access to feed are among the measures recommended by EFSA.

This makes the design of the entire mating and gestation area important – not just the individual pen.

Group housing designed around sow behaviour

In the EU, sows and gilts must generally be kept in groups from four weeks after service until one week before expected farrowing. EU legislation also sets requirements for floor area, flooring, pen dimensions, manipulable material and feeding systems.

However, meeting minimum requirements is only the starting point.

A well-designed group housing system should provide:

• Clearly defined resting, activity and manure areas
• Safe, non-slip flooring that supports movement and reduces the risk of injuries
• Good access to feed and water
• Space and layout that allow sows to move and interact
• Feeding solutions that ensure individual animals can obtain their allocated feed
• Stable and well-managed groups
• Easy access for inspection, treatment and daily management

SKIOLD designs group housing solutions with these considerations in mind, adapting the layout and equipment to the herd size, production system and working routines on the farm.

Feeding that supports individual sow management

Feed management is one of the most important elements in gestation.

When sows are housed in groups, competition for feed can result in differences in feed intake if the system does not adequately protect individual access. EFSA specifically recommends feeding systems that ensure each sow can obtain sufficient feed, including systems such as lockable feeding stalls or transponder-controlled feeding.

SKIOLD offers feeding solutions for different types of mating and gestation systems, from individual feeding solutions to automated electronic sow feeding.

Electronic feeding can provide individual feed allocation and help the producer monitor and manage the herd more precisely. Depending on the farm setup, the system can also support dynamic group management and integration with digital production data.

The right solution depends on the herd, housing concept, management strategy and the level of automation required.

Water: reliable access for every sow

Reliable access to clean drinking water is essential in the mating and gestation unit.

Water intake is affected by several factors, including feed composition, health and environmental temperature. In group housing, the design and number of drinking points also need to take competition between animals into account.

EFSA identifies insufficient water intake as a relevant welfare concern for dry sows and gilts and recommends continuous access to water of appropriate quality, with drinkers that are functional, clean, accessible and available in sufficient numbers for the group.

SKIOLD can integrate different drinking solutions into the pen design, including drinking valves, cups and trough systems, depending on the housing concept.

Flooring designed for comfort, hygiene and durability

Flooring has to perform several functions at the same time.

It must provide a secure surface for the animals while supporting good hygiene and efficient manure handling. In group-housed sow systems, flooring design is particularly important because the animals spend a large part of their reproductive cycle in these areas.

Research on flooring for group-housed sows indicates that slat and gap dimensions can influence foot health and comfort, while still needing to support effective manure management.

EU legislation also specifies requirements for concrete slatted floors used for gilts and sows, including maximum opening width and minimum slat width, as well as requirements for solid floor area.

SKIOLD offers different flooring solutions that can be combined according to the pen design, manure system, animal requirements and cleaning strategy of the individual farm.

Climate and ventilation for a stable environment

Climate conditions have a direct influence on sow comfort and the working environment in the mating and gestation unit.

The ventilation system should provide appropriate air movement and temperature while removing moisture and contaminants from the house. The required solution depends on the building, outdoor climate, stocking density and housing design.

SKIOLD supplies complete climate solutions for pig houses, including ventilation, heating, cooling and control.

Our ventilation solutions can be designed as part of the overall mating and gestation concept, helping to create a stable environment while considering energy consumption and the specific conditions of the building.

Pen design that works for both animals and people

Good pen design is not only about the animals.

The layout should also make everyday work easier. Clear access routes, good visibility, practical gates and well-positioned equipment can reduce unnecessary handling and make inspection, feeding, cleaning and treatment more efficient.

The mating area is particularly important because it is where heat detection, insemination and early pregnancy management take place. Good layout and workflow can therefore have a direct influence on how efficiently these tasks can be performed. European pig production specialists also emphasise the importance of mating-area design for heat detection, insemination and feeding during early pregnancy.

SKIOLD can design the mating and gestation area around the way the farm operates – from animal flow and group management to feeding, inspection and cleaning.

A complete solution – designed for your farm

There is no single mating and gestation layout that is right for every farm.

Herd size, genetics, building dimensions, climate, feeding strategy, labour availability and the desired level of automation all influence the best solution.

SKIOLD combines:

• Penning and gates
• Feeding systems
• Electronic sow feeding
• Water systems
• Flooring
• Ventilation and climate
• Digital pig management
• Farm planning and project expertise

By considering these elements together, the solution can be designed to support animal welfare, efficient production and practical day-to-day management.

From mating to farrowing – one connected production flow

Mating and gestation should not be considered in isolation.

The way sows are handled after weaning, during mating, through gestation and before transfer to the farrowing unit influences the workflow throughout the sow farm.

With SKIOLD, the different production areas can be planned as one integrated system. This creates better coherence between housing, feeding, climate, management and digital control – from mating and gestation through to farrowing and beyond.

Real farms. Proven solutions.

See how pig producers around the world use SKIOLD solutions to create efficient and well-designed sow production.

Fustero Ganadera, Spain
Electronic Sow Feeding for 1,600 sows in gestation.
Read the customer story →

Civagaard, Denmark
Integrated feeding solutions supporting feed efficiency, animal welfare and daily work.
Read the customer story →

Prima Svin, Denmark
A complete solution for a large-scale sow operation, including feeding, climate and air cleaning.
Read the customer story →

Looking for the right mating and gestation solution?

Talk to SKIOLD about your herd, existing facilities or new pig farm project. We can help you develop a solution based on your production goals, working routines and future requirements.

Contact us to discuss your project