In recent years, China's pig farming industry has grown considerably, bringing new requirements for pig barn construction. Many farmers do not give enough attention to building their pig barns, resulting in poor ventilation and a strong ammonia smell. This causes discomfort among the pigs and allows pig diseases to spread. Pig barn construction therefore has a significant impact on the growth and development of pigs. Building a pig barn is one of the first things many novice farmers need to consider when entering the industry, and a suitable pig barn can also double the benefits for a farm. So what makes a pig barn suitable? What principles should guide its construction? These are questions many novice farmers ask. Today, we will introduce some principles to follow when building a pig barn, in the hope that they will be helpful to farmers.
I. Provide ventilation and cooling equipment
Ventilation in a pig barn is essential. Pigs eat, drink, urinate, and defecate inside the barn. If it is poorly designed, ventilation will be inadequate and the concentration of harmful gases in the barn will rise significantly. Farmers must therefore keep the air fresh to help prevent respiratory disorders, meningitis, ileitis, and other diseases. Cold air can even be allowed in, but heating is essential. In a well-ventilated pig barn, air moves through the space. This not only removes dust and pathogens and exhausts harmful gases, but also keeps the barn dry. Air circulation is critical in preventing undesirable pig behaviors such as tail biting, crowding, and excessive drinking. The purpose of scientific ventilation is to maximize pig production performance while minimizing the likelihood of disease infection.
II. Feed cart
In intensive pig farms, the feed cart is used only as auxiliary feeding equipment. It is mainly used for measured feeding in breeding pens, gestating sow pens, and farrowing pens, transporting feed from the feed room to the trough. There are two types of feed carts: motorized push carts and manually pushed carts.
III. Setting up farrowing pens
The middle of the farrowing pen is the restricted area for the sow, with areas for piglets on both sides. To create a suitable localized microclimate in the farrowing pen and meet the needs of piglet growth, a warming box can be installed in the piglet area. Heating devices such as heated floors and infrared heaters can be used to raise the temperature of the local environment. Intensive pig farms generally place sow farrowing pens in farrowing houses. Arranging farrowing pens centrally, rather than dispersing them, makes management easier. Centralizing the farrowing pens can reduce labor input, allowing one person to manage more sows.
The design of pig housing affects the future economic performance of a pig farm. Only well-designed pig housing can support good development. Building pig housing is not simply a matter of putting up a small building; various factors need to be considered together.