Pig loading ramp

stationary

Overview
The loading quay is designed to preserve livestock health by preventing drivers from entering farm buildings and reducing the risk of disease introduction. It facilitates pig handling and speeds up loading operations, helping to lower animals' stress during boarding. The quay also allows the farmer to prepare animals for transport by sorting, keeping them off-feed and providing rest before departure.

Types

• Quay with 2/3 rows for 7/8 sows
• Quay version with soup feeding and resin troughs

Animal watering and welfare (research highlights)
Providing drinking systems on the quay is important. A trial at the Station de Romillé showed that watering pigs on the quay reduces carcass weight loss. During long resting periods (~16 hours) animals drank on average 1.22 L; during shorter periods (~8 hours) intake was about 0.36 L. Installing pipette-type drinkers improves welfare and helps reduce pre-transport stress.

Advantages

• Lighting for night loading
• Gate specially designed for loading quays
• Easy cleaning and disinfection after each batch

Description

• Galvanized steel gate with PVC swing leaf: one side with a bayonet rotation axis, the other side with removable bayonet for opening (4-point locking)
• Concrete slatted floor
• Resin feeding/drinking trough

Documentation
Technical document available: LOADING-QUAY-2025-ENG.pdf

Technical specifications

• Primary function: prevent driver access to farm interiors and limit disease introduction to preserve livestock health
• Improves handling and loading speed to reduce animal stress
• Allows preparation actions: sorting, off-feed management, resting before departure
• Available types: 2/3 rows (7/8 sows); version with soup feeding and resin troughs
• Gate: galvanized steel with PVC swing leaf; bayonet rotation axis; removable bayonet for opening; 4-point locking
• Floor: concrete slatted
• Feeding/drinking: resin troughs; pipette-type drinkers recommended to improve welfare
• Research data: water intake ~1.22 L for ~16 h rest; ~0.36 L for ~8 h rest (Station de Romillé trial)
• Maintenance: designed for easy cleaning and disinfection after each batch