Recirculator For Milk Replacer

Recirculator for Milk Replacer HOG EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Hog Equipment & Ideas (351) 14-4-29 "It accelerates growth as much as 5 lbs. at 4 weeks fora minimal cost," says John Soppe, Manchester, Iowa, who's developed a recirculating system for feeding milk replacer to baby pigs. Soppe raises pigs and also works as a plumber. He got tired of trying to feed milk replacer to pigs out of gallon jugs or other makeshift feeders. But he couldn't find a commercial system that would always keep milk fresh and yet provide pigs with all they could drink. The system consists of a small watering cup that mounts in one corner of a crate where the sow can't get at it. The cup has a 1 1/2 in. center pin that opens a valve when the pig pushes on it, letting milk replacer into the cup from a pressurized line running below the cup. If the pigs aren't drinking in one crate, the milk just goes on by to the next crate. Fresh milk is added at a central 20-gal. reservoir. A water valve is plumbed into the system so it can be cold-flushed at any time. After each farrowing cycle, Soppe flushes the system with hot water and a mild deter-gent. "It takes just minutes to clean," says Soppe, noting that he worked on developing the system for 1 1/2 years before coming up with a design that worked. "None of the valves has ever plugged or broken. Works perfectly." Soppe starts feeding milk replacer to pigs at one week. "They won't start looking around until they're 8 or 10 days old. Once they find it, they love it. Eight litters of pigs will drink about 30 gal. of replacer a day." In addition to increasing sow weaning weights, Soppe says the early feeder saves pigs that might otherwise be orphaned, reduces sow stress, helps provide more uniform litters, reduces secondary infections due to increased vigor, can be used to deliver doses of vitamins and minerals, and lets him save large litters without moving pigs to other crates. Weaned pigs have been averaging 3 to 5 lbs. heavier at 28 days. Total cost per pig for replacer varies from $1.50 to $2.25. Another benefit is that with the faster start, he can switch pigs to cheaper ground feed right after weaning, and use less medication. Soppe says the control valves that mount on the wall by the central reservoir are key components in making the circulating system work. He has patent protection and has already sold several systems to farmers in his area. It's designed for do-it-yourself installation. Costs about $50 per crate ($68 per crate for 12 or less). For more information, contact FARM SHOW Followup, John Soppe, Manchester, Iowa 52057 (ph 319 927-2232 or 927-5895).

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