There were 3,200 sows in the farm by the end of 2009. Wens decided to expand the farm size by introducing 800 gilts into a new production line which would be used as a trial farm for feeding sows in group-housing condition with Nedap Velos ESF. Currently, there are over 60 farms with similar number of sows in Wens Group.

The Shiba farm is equipped with 17 feed stations and four heat detection units. Sows inseminated at same week are kept together in a static group during gestation. Four feed stations are installed together with heat detectors, one feed station is used as a separate training station, and each feed station would take care of 40 sows in a same pen. Sows are kept in one of the four pens with feed stations and heat detectors from three to four days after insemination until four weeks of pregnancy. After four weeks of insemination, sows would be kept in pens with feed stations only for the rest 12 weeks of gestation and then moved to farrowing house. In August 2010, the first batch of sows will be farrowing.

Wens Food Group takes this trial project very seriously, because the shift of sow feeding method from individual crates to group-housing with ESF is influential to production level of Wens. Huanan Poultry Equipment Co.,Ltd. will ensure the success of this shift with its strong technical force.