ROTA-PLAY
Cost EffectiveTool Free Maintenance
Multi-pen Interaction
Cleaner Enrichment
Patent Pending - GB2311641.1
UK Design - 6299952
UK Design - 6299952
During a routine inspection on his farm near Beeford, East Yorkshire, Tom Warkup was warned of a possible future increase in pig pen enrichment requirements.
'I could see more and more of my time being spent between workshop and pen, devising, fixing and repairing a range of toys to keep our pigs engaged.'
'So I got to thinking. I am a fan of Crystal Spring feeders- expensive but not so much when shared between two pens. As I wanted something big enough to hold up to three toys at once, similar siting between pens seemed a good idea.'
Tom enlisted the help of Richard Morley, 'a genius with metal' and they built prototypes, which they tested on their own pigs , over a period of six months.
'We developed a frame to fix in our pen divisions, which hold up to three toys each- we chose wood, plastic pipe and a salt lick block- all fixed without any tools, just a pre-drilled 22 mm hole in each toy.'
'They proved very popular with the pigs, retaining their interest, like chat-up frames with bolt in entertainment and since fitting them we have had no vice in those pens,' adding 'that's not a formal trial- just an observation.'
'We made some for another farmer and he was very pleased with the results. We realised that this was a saleable item, with the fixing of the toy's holding bar being its unique selling point. Being no lawyer I enlisted the help of Neal Hodgkinson in obtaining a patent and also concluded a manufacturing and promotion deal with A M Warkup Ltd.'
'So' Tom said, summing up- 'the toys remain clean, retain the pigs interest, are easily replaced or changed, without tools and all at a reasonable cost.'
Prices start from £72.50 +VAT