Tractor Tire Farrowing Nest

Tractor tire farrowing nest HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas (351) 16-5-27 Tractor tires make low-cost "nests" for far-rowing sows, says James P. Bedell, Ash-burn, Ga. Bedell uses a right angle grinder to cut notches into opposite sides of the sidewall, then uses a jigsaw to round them out. The notches provide lying space for the sow, and the sidewall provides a covered creep area for the baby pigs to keep them out of drafts and away from the sow when she lies down. "It uses the same concept as the European farrowing `nest box' which is designed to answer animal welfare concerns about crate confinement," says Bedell. "I leave the bottom sidewall intact and fill the tire with straw. The sow stands on the sidewall and her weight on it keeps her from rooting around. It really comes in handy when extra farrowing or lactation space is needed. Sows can be farrowed in the tire or moved into it from a farrowing crate. The bigger the tire, the better. I have about 12 tire farrowing nests on my farm and am still experimenting with their use. I've found that it's best to keep them under a shelter because if straw gets mined on it becomes a soggy mess. To clean the tire I flip it over and then roll it to a clean spot. After the tire is dry, I sweep out any remaining straw." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James P. Bedell, Rt. 1, Box 630, Ashburn, Ga. 31714 (ph 912 567-3939).

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