Pig farrowing and weaning apparatus

In a pig farrowing apparatus of the type having:

• restraining means for restricting the orientation of a sow during delivery, and
• a delivery chamber separated from said restraining means by a closable opening,
• the improvement comprising:
• door means closing said opening, said door means being openable to allow a piglet into said delivery chamber,
• means closing said door to prevent the return of said piglet to said restraining means;
• a substantially horizontal grid floor in said delivery chamber serving to prevent excessive piglet movement upon entry therein so as to limit umbilical cord damage and to provide drainage of residual body fluids;
• a feeder chamber alongside but separated from said sow restraining means;
• linkway means linking said delivery chamber to said feeder chamber, said linkway means including a ramp inclined downwardly to said feeder chamber, said linkway means being adapted to allow a piglet to move from said delivery chamber to said feeder chamber but to prevent its return into said delivery chamber;
• and
• feeder means in said feeder chamber for making available feed to piglets therein.