SC MN | timis - 1/24/2023 21:53
What about doing something like the guys that raise pigs in hoop buildings like Niman ranch? They just use deep pack bedding inside. Just depends on how you want to do it, but to me cold with bedding is warmer than cold with concrete. I know in our old barn, animals are comfortable at 15 below (even small animals) if they have some bedding nose into. A lot of your disease discussion has to do with proximity to other pigs.
I think this is good advice. This type of system should work well in your climate. Make the farrowing pens removeable, so after a farrowing you can remove them and clean out the entire barn and get ready for the next group. Pigs on dirt sounds quaint, but leads to long-term problems with parasites and gut diseases, which will be hard to control on dirt.
Also your litter size seems pretty optimistic. I think with a Duroc sow probably litters will average 8-9 weaned-maybe a few 10's if you're lucky. |
Hog barn flooring
