Author Topic: Wanted - inexpensive pig pregnancy scanner (Read 4933 times)

Tudful Tamworths · « **on:** October 29, 2010, 12:19:36 am »

Looking for something similar to the Agritech Doppler, the PregTector by Rotech or equivalent Draminski model.

oaklandspigs · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2010, 06:31:04 pm »

Liz, we spent ages looking for a second hand one, they don't come up very often. We ended up buying a new one - went for
http://www.draminski.com/products/pigs/draminski_tester_ciazy_dla_swin
which we got through
www.pbmarketing.co.uk
Not on his website, but I know he imports them.

Not cheap by any means.

Does take a while to get used to where to put it on sows vs. gilts, and larger vs smaller pigs, but once you get the hang is easy to use, and gives a clear sound indictation from 35 to 75 days, so you can check that she is holding the pregnancy.

Tudful Tamworths · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2010, 12:16:44 am »

Thanks. Before I posted this, I had collected quotes from various places. Draminski (very basic design) about £350, Agritech, £325 + vat, PregTector £395 + VAT. Quite fancy the latter. Spec sounds better, and they offer an angled-top unit as well as a flat one, so could be easier when standing up.

Wasn't asking specifically for second-hand ones, but if someone has bought one and not used it much, I'd be interested. Probably going to bite the bullet in November and invest in one, so would appreciate any advice. Having one would save a lot of guess work and unnecessary/inefficient feeding.

JulieS · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2010, 06:52:39 am »

I'm looking forward to reading any advice too. It's something I know I should get, but as you say it's a big investment.

Blinkers · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2010, 11:23:23 am »

Quote from: JulieS on October 30, 2010, 06:52:39 am

I'm looking forward to reading any advice too. It's something I know I should get, but as you say it's a big investment.

Ditto

HappyHippy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2010, 01:40:17 pm »

I'm not as experienced as you guys when it comes to breeding pigs, so please excuse me if this is totally ignorant

but surely you'd be able to tell by watching for her coming back into season at 21, 42, 63 days etc ? As Oaklands says it's good from 35 - 75 days, so not effective in early pregnancy and by the time you're over 75 days it is getting to the fairly obvious stage (or maybe that's just Kunes

) I've been toying with the idea of one, but wonder how neccesary/useful they would actually be

JulieS · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2010, 03:22:31 pm »

I used to think the same Karen, but during this year I've had two GOS's that it would have been really useful for. One gilt was still not showing any signs of being in pig the day before she farrowed producing 7 and the other had a 'phantom' pregnancy. So in both cases the scanner would have been great.

Maybe I should put one on my 'Christmas List'.