Arkell Swine Research Station, University of Guelph.

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During the spring of 2004, a liquid feeding system was installed at the Arkell swine research station of the University of Guelph. The system will be used to support the research program on swine liquid feeding that was developed in close collaboration with the Swine Liquid Feeding Association and that is supported by a number of sponsoring organizations.

Two unique features of this Big Dutchman system are that a new batch of liquid feed is prepared for each feeding and for individual troughs, and that liquid feed is moved to the feeders using air. These features are different from conventional liquid feeding systems that prepare batches of feed for several troughs at one time and that use water or feed to move the feed to the trough. The entire system can be controlled and monitored from a remote computer via a modem or the Internet.

Picture 1 provides a general overview of the feed kitchen. The system can handle seven dry components and five liquid components. The dry feed components are stored in three large bins (not shown) or four small 150 kg stainless steel bins (centre of picture). The small bins can be used for low inclusion premixes or complete feeds that are used in small quantities, such as phase I pig starter diets. Liquid components are stored in two 5000 kg tanks (left hand side of picture) or three 2500 kg fermentation tanks (right hand side in picture).

Fermentation tanks (Picture 2 - right) are placed on load cells to monitor weight and are equipped with probes to continuously monitor pH (acidity) and temperature of the contents. Each of the liquid component tanks has its own stainless steel stone trap and computer controlled pump. Each of the tanks is fitted with agitators, a washing system and 2 fogging units to enter two different cleaning agents in the tanks (acid and base)(Picture 3 - left).

Central to the liquid feeding system is the 80 kg mixing tank (Picture 4 - left).

The tank is placed on load cells and receives dry components from the seven short horizontal augers that are placed directly above the mixing tank (Picture 5 - right). The short augers and small feed holding bins above the mixing tank enhance accuracy of dry component delivery to the mixing tank.

Liquid components are entered via the top or bottom of the mixing tank (Picture 6). Each liquid component has its own line leading to the mixing tank with computer-controlled valves. Both cold and warm water can be used to prepare the liquid feed. Once the feed components are delivered and the liquid feed is mixed, the mixing tank is sealed and air pressure is then used to move the liquid feed to the troughs through a one-inch feed line. A small amount of water is used to rinse out the feed line after each delivery of feed. Feed preparation and delivery is computer controlled and a new batch of feed can be prepared every 2 to 3 minutes. The mixing tank is equipped with a cleaning system, similar to that for the liquid component tanks.

The 24 valves that control the liquid feed to each of 24 feed troughs are positioned in the hallway and outside of the pig rooms (Picture 7).

Liquid feed is delivered to two identical rooms, with 12 pens each (Picture 8). Each pen can hold 16 starter pigs or 8 grower-finisher pigs. Heat lamps can be used to provide additional heat to young pigs.

Feed troughs can be exchanged to accommodate starter pigs (Picture 9 - left) or grower-finisher pigs (Picture 10- right) and allow all pigs in the pen to eat simultaneously. Each trough has a sensor to check whether feed is present in the trough prior to feeding.

(Picture 11) One additional valve at the end of the feed line is used to dispose of cleaning water and for liquid feed sampling.

Pictures:
1. Feed kitchen.
2. One of three fermentation tanks.
3. Top of liquid component tank.
4. Liquid feed mixing tank.
5. Mixing tank, augers for dry components and fermentation tanks.
6. Mixing tanks and liquid component valves.
7. 24 feed valves in hallway.
8. Overview of one of two pig rooms.
9. Starter pigs eating.
10. Grower-finisher pig trough with sensor and feed delivery device.
11. Extra feed line (valve 25) for disposal of cleaning water and sampling.