Piggery (pig house) is the most important consideration in Pig farming. pig farming has recently become a popular endeavor that requires proper housing to ensure your animals are in a conducive and healthy environment. The design and construction of the pig structure pivot to the overall well-being and productivity of the pig. As farmers strive for sustainable farming practices, the need for efficient pig house structures that are eco-friendly and odor-free within small backyards is gaining popularity among pig farmers particularly small-scale pig farmers.
The scarcity of agricultural land poses a threat to pig farmers on how to manage odor effectively while ensuring a conducive environment for their pigs and the entire community. As a rule of thumb, pig farming is a profitable venture if done in adherence to the set standard and a scalable manner. By adhering to certain principles and good practices, you can create an efficient and sustainable pig house that meets the needs for sustainable living conditions for your pigs. A pig house for permanent pig rearing should be strong and durable to withstand the pigs’ destructive nature of the pigs.
Here are some tips for pig house construction.
Location and orientation.
It is critical to set your piggery in conformity with set standards. To avoid odor and noises, locate your piggery downside residential areas. This should be 30 to 50 M away from the residential area, and at least 30 M from the dairies. Furthermore, farmers should build their piggeries in a reasonably high place, well-drained to avoid flooding. To warm your piggery during winter and cold summer seasons, the piggery should be located toward the south depending on the terrain and the altitude. In case of the commercial production, your farm should be accessible by motorized vehicle for easy delivery of feed and distribution to the market. In addition, supply your farm with a reliable clean water supply and electricity for mechanization.
Floor materials for the Piggery.
As it happens to all livestock, you start by building your pig structure well before the welcoming of the pigs on your farm. Pigs are good excavators, which like destroying the structure, especially the flooring materials. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you build a strong and durable floor that can withstand the pig’s destructive nature. In order to prevent your pigs from rotting your floor, a hard ground or concrete floor is recommended. As a result of technological advancement farmers have adopted new flooring materials that are not only hard and durable but easy to clean, keeping your pig in healthy and comfortable conditions such as plastic slates.
Walls.
Farmers should also build the wall of their piggery using solid strong materials to restrain the pigs. In cases where the pig house is permanent, you should use strong materials such as bricks, stone, or hardwood timber. For the stone and brick wall ensure it goes up to 4.5 feet from the floor with good plastering to avoid scratching of the pigs by the rough wall.
Up to two-thirds of the height wall can be built the same way with plastered bricks while the remaining height of the wall can be built with wood or wire mesh. Some framers prefer to leave it open. This is an important design as it ensures proper air circulation within your piggery. In case you don’t have enough capital to install a brick wall, other suitable materials are bamboo sticks, wood, etc.
Roofing for the Piggery.
The roof should be high enough, about 10 feet for proper air circulation. Support your roof using the pillars raised from the walls at a minimum height of 9 feet from the floor. Farmers use iron sheets as their roofing materials as they are all weather and durable. Moreover, iron sheets are readily available and are cost-effective. In case a farmer resides in a much warmer area, they can install an adjustable roof design. During a hot day, you raise the roof a little bit higher to avoid overheating your pigs.
Feeders for the Piggery.
When designing and constructing a pig feeder, keep in mind that a pig’s snout is strong and destructive. Therefore, it is essential to use materials that are strong, durable, and safe for your pigs. Lastly, the materials should be affordable to the farmer. That being said, the feeder’s life span and performance depend on the materials you use to build your feeder. Concrete feeders are a common type of feeder that most farmers use as they are strong and durable.
Other options for pig feeders are plastic feeders, which are relatively cheap and easy to clean. However, they are not as durable as concrete feeders. Wooden feeders are another popular option farmers use in their piggery. Although these materials are readily available, wooden feeder requires regular maintenance due to rotting.
Waterer.
As mentioned earlier, your pig house should have a reliable water supply. Pigs require an adequate amount of water for optimal growth and development. As a result of technological advancement, new watering tools have been introduced to ensure an efficient and hygienic water supply to pigs. Examples of such tools are nipples. They are designed to replace the traditional watering system which is uneconomical in terms of water wastage. Nipples reduce water wastage as they deliver water directly to pig mouths when they press it. Furthermore, these nipples not only reduce water contamination but also help maintain a dry piggery.
Wastage management system.
Proper waste management is an important aspect of pig farming as it helps in preventing odor in your farm. Proper wastage reduces the building up of gases and pathogens which cause anaerobic reactions causing bad odor. Designing a good waste management system such as composting helps to minimize the negative environmental impacts and maintain healthy animals and the ecosystem. Proper drainage is also important to ensure all the wastes exit the piggery. The drainage should have enough slope for easy cleaning.
In conclusion, designing a good pig house for pigs requires careful consideration of your farm location. You should not install pigs’ houses based on comparison from another farm. Instead, you should consult a technical expert to analyze your farm and then design the best pig structure for you. With modern technology, many new pig houses are available without necessarily considering climatic conditions these new systems are automated.
References.
https://www.thepigsite.com/articles/how-to-farm-pigs-housing.
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