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Housing for small Piggeries 2

Why house pigs at all? Because:-

• It makes for better biosecurity• It reduces parasites – mange, worms, ticks• It allows controlled feeding• It makes treatment easier• It reduces theft

Housing for small PiggeriesHousing for small Piggeries

Welfare aspects:Keeping dry sows outside is often successful,

provided there is plenty of space and good shelter for all.

Free range systems sound fine , but:-

• There is little disease control• Free access to toxic plants, human excreta• Bullying is not eliminated • Rough stony ground, dirty wallows, Ascaris eggs• Feeding is not controlled

Housing for small piggeriesHousing for small piggeries

Intensive housing is not all bad:-Intensive housing is not all bad:-

–Individuals can be observed, treated, fed, protected individually;

–Record-keeping is much easier, so production is easily measured;

–Space is more economically used;

–All-in all-out systems become possible

Housing for small piggeries

Is there a practical, affordable compromise?

Consider the pig’s housing needs, such as:-

• Protection from bad weather• Protection from direct sun, and extreme

temperatures• Protection from each other• Protection from thirst, hunger, pain, fear, injury• Protection from mishandling by cruel or careless

people

Housing for small piggeriesHousing for small piggeries

Whatever housing system is used, it can be made to work, provided that good farming practice is understood and applied.

• Be receptive to the messages that pigs are sending out all the time;

• Be aware of the pigs’ needs;• Be informed about what remedy to apply;• Have the resources to carry out the necessary

correction

Housing for small piggeriesHousing for small piggeries

Specifications for the construction of pig pens:• It must be pig-proof;• It should have a hard drained cleanable floor;• It must have clear areas for sleeping, eating,

dunging;• Water must be provided in secure, clean containers

in every pen: drinking nipples are best;• Different age groups need separate pens;• Face the pens away from the worst weather and cold

winds;• Ensure good light and ventilation

Housing for small piggeriesHousing for small piggeries

• Some dimensions: (see sketches on p19)• An all- purpose pen can be—

• 4m by 3m i.e. 12 square metres,• Roof will be 3m x 3m or 3m x 4m in area, sloping

from back to front; height 2.5m at back, 1.65 in front;• Where sows and piglets share the same pen, a creep

area across the rear of 1m x 3m keeps sow from creep feed and piglet sleeping area;

• Floor slopes 1% to gate and drain – outside and to a pond or soak-away.

This all-purpose pen will accommodate any of This all-purpose pen will accommodate any of the following:-the following:-

• 1 or 2 sows with litters (this pen will have a creep area);

• 2 or 3 litters of weaned pigs up to 10 weeks old;• 4 dry sows or gilts;• 1 boar with a couple of sows;• 15 grower pigs up to 70kg live mass; or• 12 baconers up to 90 - 95 kg live mass

Note: a general rule for space per pig is to allow at least 1sq m per 100 kg of live pig in closed pens; boars and sows need double or more .

Housing for small piggeries

There are cheaper alternatives that are quite acceptable; using locally available materials and ingenuity can go a long way, provided that the basic specs are met.

The following pictures show some examples of inexpensive housing that has been built with an understanding of the needs of pigs of all ages; there are also some that do not meet requirements.

An inexpensive all-purpose pen as sketched here has been used successfully for small commercial piggeries

One version with walls – poles or pipes or even old pallets will be fine and improve contact between neighbouring pens.