Wean-To-Finish Pig Feeder - 785 lb capacity

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Osborne 785-pound Wean-to-Finish Pig Feeder

This feeder is designed to support pigs from the early weaning stage through finishing weight while maintaining consistent feed availability.  The large-capacity uses Osborne’s FAST Start feeding system, which begins with gravity-flow feeding to help newly weaned pigs start eating quickly and then automatically transitions to mechanical feed delivery once pigs are strong enough to activate the feeder wheel. The result is a feeding system that supports early pig growth while helping reduce feed waste as animals mature.

Built for long-term durability in swine production environments, the RF3FS feeder features reinforced fiberglass construction and heavy-duty metal components. Its round trough allows pigs to feed from all sides, providing 360-degree access that helps reduce crowding and improve feeding comfort. The feeder’s larger hopper capacity makes it well-suited for operations that require dependable feed availability with fewer refilling cycles.

RF3FS FAST Start Pig Feeder Specifications

Feed capacity based on feed density of approximately 42 lbs per cubic foot.

Key FeaturesThe 

• The FAST Start feeding system supports newly weaned pigs before transitioning to mechanical feeding
• Large hopper capacity reduces refill frequency in swine feeding operations
• Mechanical feed delivery helps reduce wasted feed compared to gravity-flow feeders
• Round, self-cleaning trough eliminates corners where feed can accumulate
• 360-degree feeding access allows pigs to eat comfortably from all sides
• Reinforced fiberglass hopper and trough designed for durability
• Combination metal construction, including galvanized, zinc-plated, painted, and stainless steel components
• Easy-to-clean design suitable for livestock barns and hog pens
• Ships knocked down on a pallet with assembly and operating instructions
• Includes hopper lid to help protect feed

Product Details

The RF3FS FAST Start Big Wheel Feeder is designed to simplify feeding management from the nursery stage through finishing. During the first 10 to 14 days after pigs are introduced to the feeder, small slides located in the hopper bottom remain open. This allows feed to flow freely into the trough, ensuring young pigs can easily access feed before they develop the strength needed to operate the feeder’s agitation wheel.

As pigs grow and begin interacting with the feeder wheel, the system automatically transitions into mechanical-flow feeding mode. In this stage, pigs control feed delivery by rotating the wheel in the trough. This controlled feed dispensing helps prevent excess feed buildup and supports more efficient feed use throughout the finishing period.

The feeder is constructed with abrasion-resistant reinforced fiberglass for both the hopper and trough, helping it withstand daily livestock use. Structural metal components include hot-dipped galvanized, zinc-plated, painted, and stainless steel parts to provide strength and corrosion resistance. The round trough design eliminates corners where feed can collect, helping maintain a cleaner feeding area while allowing multiple pigs to feed comfortably at the same time.

Best Uses

The RF3FS FAST Start Wean-to-Finish Pig Feeder is ideal for swine operations feeding pigs from approximately 10 pounds through market weight. Its larger hopper capacity makes it particularly useful for producers managing larger groups of pigs or facilities where maintaining a consistent feed supply with fewer refills is important.

The feeder can be installed in the center of a pen to provide full feeding access or positioned along a fence line, depending on pen layout. Its durable construction and self-cleaning trough design make it suitable for use in commercial swine barns, finishing facilities, and small farm hog operations.

Pig Feeder Frequently Asked Questions

How does the FAST Start system help newly weaned pigs?

The FAST Start system allows feed to flow freely into the trough during the first days after pigs are introduced to the feeder. This helps newly weaned pigs begin eating quickly before they learn to operate the feeder wheel.

How does mechanical feed flow improve feeding efficiency?

Mechanical feed flow requires pigs to activate the feeder wheel to release feed from the hopper. This prevents continuous feed flow and helps reduce overfilled troughs, allowing pigs to access feed when needed while m

See the PARTS DIAGRAM at the bottom of the page for more details on the individual components.

 

The Wet/Dry Stainless Steel Component Option

This feeder is available with an option called the Wet/Dry stainless steel component option. The standard feeder includes a combination of metal types and finishes. The standard stainless steel components include the axle, feed sweep, and pin and center channel on the feed wheel. All other components are painted, except for feed flow control, which is zinc-plated.

The wet/dry stainless component option includes a combination of zinc-plated and 304 stainless steel components. The stainless steel components include the trough divider, axle, feed sweep, and feed wheel. All other components are zinc-plated.

May 23, 2017 – Osborne, Kan. –Finding the most efficient method of feeding pigs has been a never-ending quest for producers and equipment suppliers alike. Hand feeding and automatic, gravity-flow feeders dominated the industry until the development of mechanical-flow feeding in the 1980s. This development revolutionized the industry, and the only mechanically-operated feeder, the Osborne Big Wheel^®Feeder, quickly became the #1 selling hog feeder in the U.S. However, as the industry moved toward wean-to-finish, producers often found that no commercially available feeding systems were adequate in a wean-to-finish environment. The best gravity-flow feeders worked well for newly weaned pigs, but as pigs grew, play waste and overloading of the trough became a maintenance nightmare. Alternatively, mechanical-flow feeders provided never-before-seen feed savings but sometimes required assistance to help pigs get started on the feeder.

Now, Osborne Industries, Inc., the industry-leading innovator in pig feeding, is pleased to announce its latest advancement in its signature line of “no-waste” pig feeders. The new FAST Start^™wean-to-finish feeder features all the no-waste, feed-saving aspects of the Big Wheel family of mechanical-flow feeders, but operates in a gravity-flow mode for newly weaned pigs. The feeder then automatically converts to mechanical flow as pigs grow. Osborne’s new feeder will be introduced at the World Pork Expo, June 7-9, 2017, in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, at booth V451.

Osborne’s President & CEO, Mr. George Eakin, said, “The FAST Start Feeder is an answer to the age-old problem of designing a feeder that is capable of feeding very young pigs, and yet, prevents the excessive feed waste that occurs when pigs grow. Traditional gravity-flow feeders start very young pigs easily, but adjusting them to prevent feed waste throughout the growing cycle is a management nightmare.”

Eakin continued, “The FAST Start Feeder combines gravity-flow feed delivery for newly weaned pigs with mechanical feed delivery for finishing pigs, which saves feed and ensures feed freshness. The conversion of the FAST Start Feeder from a gravity-flow feed delivery to a feed-saving mechanical-flow delivery is done automatically by the pigs. This automated feature allows pigs to grow from wean to finish on a single feeder without any adjustments, and yet save feed, ensure feed freshness, and grow animals efficiently.”

 

When weaned pigs are put on the feeder, small slides in the feed hopper bottom are open, allowing feed to freely flow into the trough. As pigs grow, they begin turning the multi-spoke feed wheel at the bottom of the trough, which closes the slides on the feed hopper bottom. A feed sweep, located at the bottom of the feed hopper and attached to the feed wheel, sweeps feed past the cone and out of the hopper to the trough. Feed falls through the center hole into the trough, where the feed wheel dispenses it to the pigs. Feed stops flowing when pigs stop moving the wheel, allowing for the automatic conversion from gravity to mechanical flow.

Based on numerous on-farm trials by users, the FAST Start Big Wheel Feeder has been observed to meet all the critical performance standards cited by leading veterinarians for wean to finish, but without losing any of the well-known Osborne “no-waste” feeding during finishing. Independent producer, Jeff Dohrman, Bushton, Kan., said, “The first thing I noticed after installing the feeder was that there was always feed in the trough. Then, within 10 days to two weeks, the pigs start spinning the wheel, automatically turning into a mechanical Big Wheel. There is no problem getting pigs started on this feeder. It’s done a really good job.”

Made of abrasion and corrosion-resistant RTM-molded plastic, a material Osborne developed and perfected over the past 30 years, the feeder operates with minimal maintenance for years. No other round feeder compares to the quality of the Big Wheel Feeders.

Pig Feeder Picture Library

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LINK TO PIG FEEDER PARTS DIAGRAM

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All new Hog Feeder from Osborne

August 23, 2017 Press Release:

“The first thing I noticed after installing the feeder was that there was always feed in the trough. Then, within 10 days to two weeks, the pigs start spinning the wheel, automatically turning into a mechanical Big Wheel. There is no problem getting pigs started on this feeder. It’s done a really good job.” Jeff Dohrman, Independent Producer Bushton, Kansas

GRAVITY-TO-MECHANICAL WEAN-TO-FINISH FEEDER STARTS PIGS IMMEDIATELY

The gravity-to-mechanical design provides newly weaned pigs access to fresh feed, even before the feeder’s agitation wheel is activated. Once pigs can turn the wheel, the feeder automatically converts from gravity to mechanical flow. No labor or manual changeover needs to happen to the feeder, it's entirely automated!

FRESH FEED... AUTOMATICALLY: At the start of a turn, weaned pigs receive the full benefits of gravity-flow feeding, keeping maximum feed in the trough. As they grow, the automatic conversion from gravity-to-mechanical feed flow maximizes feed savings. The self-cleaning, round trough has no corners for feed to accumulate and the spinning action of the wheel keeps feed fresh and palatable.

COMPLETELY ELIMINATE WASTE: Unlike conventional gravity-flow feeders, mechanical flow feeders are proven to save more feed than any other feeder type. Once pigs turn the feed wheel, the Fast Start Big Wheel automatically converts to mechanical flow, eliminating play waste. Once in mechanical mode and pigs stop eating, the feeder stops feeding. ROUND ACCESS MEANS BETTER PERFORMANCE Osborne’s Big Wheel spreads animals radially, providing more standing room and less physical contact, which often results in wasteful competition. Conventional rectangular feeders force pigs into close contact. Linear trough space is never fully used, and pen space is always less for a Big Wheel. new product.

FAST, EASY STARTING. WASTE-FREE FINISHING: Patent Pending FAST start™ THE GRAVITY-TO-MECHANICAL CONCEPT - No other feeder can make the “no-waste” claim except the Big Wheel. For nearly 40 years, Osborne has proven its industry-leading innovation by continually testing and researching feeder performance. When weaned pigs are put on the feeder, the slides on the feed hopper bottom (1) are open, allowing feed to freely flow into the trough (2). As pigs grow, they begin turning the multi-spoke feed wheel (3) at the bottom of the trough, which closes the slides on the feed hopper bottom. The feed sweep (4), located in the bottom of the feed hopper and attached to the feed wheel, sweeps feed past the cone (5) and out of the hopper to the trough. Feed falls through the center hole into the trough, where the feed wheel dispenses it to the pigs. Once pigs can turn the feed wheel, the feeder makes its automatic conversion from gravity to mechanical flow.

HOW IT WORKS: The trough is round and self-cleaning, engineered for all pigs from weaning to finishing. No corners or crevices for feed to accumulate and become stale which is important to sensitive, newly-weaned pigs. The gravity-flow slides are open and the MECHANICAL-FLOW slides are closed. The feed wheel is a five-spoke feed wheel that agitates and continually mixes feed, keeping feed fresh and palatable. Pigs quickly learn, through play, that turning the wheel always delivers fresh feed. The Feed Hopper Bottom is specially designed with closure slides to remain in the open position for gravity-flow feeding until pigs can turn the feed wheel, automatically closing them to convert to mechanical flow. Feed Sweep In mechanical mode, a feed sweep, connected to the wheel, sweeps feed out of the hopper through a small opening in the hopper bottom where it is distributed into the trough. The feed cone directs the weight of the feed in the hopper off the sweep, allowing weaned pigs to begin turning the wheel within 10 to 14 days.

How the Pig Feeder Transitions from Gravity to Mechanical Flow