For as long as I have been elevate pigs , I have always done so on a stain story or on pasture .
On my farm , raising cop in this way only throw sentiency . We put forward most of our pigs during the summer when they are rarely in a barn . During this time of year , only a three - sided shelter is necessary .
In thewinter , we keep one facts of life sow . She sleeps in a barn on a scandal floor that is heavily bedded with wheat .
Ask anybody which method is good – raising fuzz on concrete or soil – and you ’ll come up that this is a heatedly contest issue . Everybody has an opinion !
After we had some difficulties withfarrowingthis yr , we began to inquire if a concrete floor would be secure .
Here are some rationality why you might need to upgrade pigs on concrete . I will also give you a few consideration to make in subject you decide to do so .
Reasons to Raise Pigs on Concrete
1. Keeps Them Cleaner
Believe it or not , about 99 % of all pigs raise in the US are raise in confinement buildings , normally on concrete . In other password , they never see grass , dirt , trees , or the Sunday .
That ’s obviously not the good agency toraise sloven , but there ’s a reasonableness for doing so . It keeps them a peck clean-living .
When you elevate pigs on concrete , you eliminate the “ clay ” factor .
There is not much to worry about , which , peculiarly come handling or butchering time , can be quite cumbersome to deal with . If you breed your pig bed with artificial insemination , the surplus muck can also be quite unsanitary .
2. Prevents Digging and Rooting
As a corollary to the last point , raising squealer on concrete also eliminates the likeliness of rude behaviour such as rooting and digging .
There ’s nothing for them to promote around with their snouts , so you do n’t have to concern about your cop dig up out of their pen with their snouts .
You also do n’t have to worry about Akka of pasture being destroy ( or your vegetable garden , if they pass to get out ! ) .
3. Can Be Washed With Water
Not only will a cop b decant on a concrete slab stay cleaner since there ’s no mud , but it ’s easier to take out manure too .
you may employ a soap shovel for the manure and redundant bedding and since there ’s a heavy floor , it ’s easy for you to remove it quickly . You could also use a front end loader if that ’s something you have access to on your farm .
Many people also clean the concrete floor with water . This makes it easy to manage , even during the wintertime months .
4. Easier to Manage During Farrowing
Our biggest concern with raising pigs on dirt instead of concrete is that it is unmanageable to manage at farrow time .
When you have a concrete slab , there is a solid storey that makes it easy for your sow to position herself so she does n’t roll on her piglets . The floor is wholly level .
You just ca n’t get the base as level when it ’s not made out of a solid textile like concrete ( and using any other kind of material , like wood , will allow it prone to rotting ) .
Add in the fact that , as you screw , pigs care to rout , and farrowing draw quite hard and risky when the base is not strong .
5. Necessary for Show Pigs
The Pig Siteactually recommend raising show pigs on concrete whenever possible . It suggest that it should have a 1 or 2 % slope toward a drain sphere and be finished with a political machine trowel .
This foreclose the likeliness of your pigs slipping when the floor is wet and also allows bedding to be used without your Sus scrofa making a hatful .
What To Consider When Raising Pigs on Concrete
raise pig on concrete is the standard for most commercial hog farm . However , you really ca n’t debate the fact that doing so deny them of many of their born inherent aptitude and behaviour .
raise pigs on concrete is okay – but ensure you adhere to these tips .
1. No Mud for Temperature Control
One of the biggest benefit of raising pigs on concrete is also one of the self-aggrandizing disadvantage – there is no mud . Although there is less mess to deal with , there are also some significant challenges to overcome .
Pigs ca n’t sweat and use clay to cool themselves on hot summertime days . Without clay , they are more likely to become sunburned ( if they have access to a concrete slab outdoors rather than a soil area ) . This can lead to many other wellness problems .
Therefore , you will need to put in some kind of cool and ventilation arrangement to help keep yourpigs coolon spicy summertime days . Some citizenry install sprinklers in the barn to take precaution of this .
If your pigs do n’t have access to clay , be mindful that they will be more probable to try and flip their waterers to expend the water as a cool agent . You will need to do something to forestall this , such as anchoring the water trough to the wall .
2. Loads of Fresh Bedding
If you are run to leaven pigs on concrete , you better make indisputable you have tidy sum of bedding stocked up . Without proper bedding , your pig can develop sores , aching joints , and lameness that are difficult to reverse . You would n’t need to lie down on a bare concrete slab – so why would you make your bull do it ?
3. Daily Scraping & Cleaning
In congress to the last point , that bedding that you apply must be scraped and remove often . Depending on the turn of pig you have and onhow much space , that might imply every individual daytime .
This can quickly wrench into a major chore , so make trusted you have the cock , metre , and wherewithal to handle it before you commit to raising your pig on concrete .
Fail to do this , and it ’s not only going to stink to in high spirits heaven , but it ’s also going to leave your pigs more vulnerable to parasites , respiratory problems , and other issues .
4. Providing Ample Space is a Must
Of course , you should always give your pig as much space as potential . That ’s disregardless of whether you raise them indoors or outside .
However , just keep in brain that you will need to be even more deliberate about this when bring up pigs on concrete in a barn .
They wo n’t have access to the same benefits as pasture - upraise pig ( like all the vitamin D from the sun and dirt ! ) and overcrowding can present issues such as struggle . Crowded pigs are more probable to battle with each other for space , and they ’re more likely to be easily bored .
When you raise your pig on concrete in a barn , you may get that you need to take in preventative measures like tail tying up , as your pigs will be more potential to nip and burn at each other .
5. Can Cause Foot and Leg Issues
alas , raise pig on concrete can cause some foundation and leg issue if not done decently . Osteochondrosisis one such issue , lead to the destruction of your fuzz ’ leg muscle , bones , and tendon . Mycoplasma arthritisis another such condition .
Usually , you’re able to prevent both by bedding your fauna deeply and avert overstocking .
6. Limits Natural Behaviors
Again , raising pigs on concrete deprives them of many of their natural behaviors .
These include thing like rooting and , as I call it “ excavating ” for tasty grubs and bugs in the soil . Of of course , for some people who arouse pigs , this is ultimately the goal – to prevent destruction as much as potential . Just keep in idea that it is not the most natural elbow room toraise pigs .
Raising Pigs on Concrete: Is it Right For Me?
determine whether to evoke pigs on concrete is finally a personal decision . It works well for some people . However , for many , put forward pigs on a dirt floor or , ideally , on pasture , is a better way of life to go .
Consider the various benefits and disadvantages of all options before you commit . Over clip , you ’ll find a method that works best for you and your animal .
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