China is a major pig-raising country. As the pig farming industry continues to grow, many pig farms have introduced a wide range of equipment, which can effectively improve productivity in the pig industry and make farm management easier for pig farmers. Although environmental temperatures in pig farms today are not affected by outdoor temperatures, pig houses still need to be equipped with heating and cooling equipment. In addition, disinfection and cleaning equipment are also very important. Let’s take a look at the functions of the equipment chosen for pig farms.
Heating equipment
Heating in pig houses is divided into two types: centralized heating and localized heating. Centralized heating uses a central heating unit to produce a heat-transfer medium, which is then delivered through pipes to radiators in the pig houses. Localized heating options include hot-water-heated floors, electric heating panels, and infrared lamps.
Ventilation equipment: Fans suitable for pig farms are mostly large-diameter, low-speed, low-power fans. These fans provide high airflow, low noise, low power consumption, and durability. Pay attention to the following points when ventilating and exchanging air:
(1) Avoid ventilation short-circuiting. Never install a fan on a wall with a passage directly below it, as this would cause the airflow to short-circuit;
(2) If using one-sided exhaust, position the exhaust outlets of adjacent pig houses on opposite sides to prevent one pig house from immediately drawing in the exhaust air from another;
(3) Where possible, ensure that airflow passes through most of the space inside the pig house, especially above the manure trench, and avoid dead zones to achieve the purpose of air exchange.
Pig Farm Cooling Equipment
Although ventilation is an effective cooling method, it can only lower the room temperature to near the temperature outside the building. Cooling systems commonly used on pig farms include evaporative cooling pad-and-fan systems, misting systems, sprinkling systems, and drip cooling systems. Because the latter three cooling systems create high humidity, they are not suitable for farrowing rooms and nursery rooms. The evaporative cooling pad-and-fan system is currently the most mature evaporative cooling system, with an evaporative cooling efficiency of 75%-90%. It is now being widely adopted around the world.
Disinfection Equipment
Common on-farm cleaning and disinfection equipment used at pig farms includes high-pressure washers, flame disinfectors, and backpack sprayers. Flame disinfection works best when combined with chemical disinfection: first disinfect with chemicals, then use a flame disinfector; sterilization can reach more than 95%.
Cleaning equipment
Modern pig farms commonly install slatted floors over manure and urine channels. After pigs defecate and urinate on the slatted floors, urine flows through the gaps into the manure channels, while feces fall onto the slatted floors and, after being trampled, automatically drop into the manure channels below. This prevents pigs from coming into contact with feces, helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of diseases.
Based on the area they cover within a pig pen, slatted floors are divided into two types: fully slatted and partially slatted. Farrowing pens and nursery pens with raised floors should use fully slatted floors, while pens where pigs are kept at ground level generally use partially slatted floors (1/3-1/2 slatted floors). The pig dunging area has a slatted floor, while the feeding and resting areas have solid floors.
The key technical parameter of slatted floors is the width of the slats. Slatted floors come in various shapes and are generally made in block, strip, or mesh form. Materials used include cement, metal, and plastic.
Conclusion
This concludes the overview of important equipment used on pig farms. Heating equipment, cooling equipment, cleaning equipment, and disinfection equipment are all commonly found on large-scale pig farms. Pig-farming equipment plays an important role in pig production, so when selecting equipment, make sure it is economical and suitable for the intended use. It should also be convenient for pig farmers to manage. Pig farmers can choose suitable equipment based on the specific circumstances of their farms.