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Pig Housing and Fencing

Buildings and Shelters 

Pig housingPigs are highly sensitive to temperature and overheating can be fatal.  As a general rule, the following is true:  adult pigs should be kept at 15-20 Celsius (60 – 70 Fahrenheit), piglets should be kept at 24 – 30 Celsius (75 – 85 Fahrenheit), weaners should be kept at 21 – 24 Celsius (70 – 70 Fahrenheit), fatteners should be kept at 13 – 21 Celsius (55 – 70 Fahrenheit).

Pigs will rest happily in lower air temperatures as long as they are able to lie together.  Shelters must always be draught free, dry and have plenty of straw available so that the pigs can make a bed.  It has been proven that pigs favour an outdoor run, with an indoor sleeping area.  They will need a toilet area that is separate from their bedding as they are exceedingly clean animals.  Pigs are very focused on eating and do produce a lot of end product, but always do this away from where they sleep and have no desire to live in muck.

If you don’t have a building that can be suitably converted for pigs, you can use outdoor farrowing or rearing huts or, even simpler in construction, pig arks.  They usually have a low rail inside, to stop the sow trapping and killing the piglets when she lies down.  Arks should be insulated with straw and never used in muddy or wet locations.  Light, well drained soils are best.  Pig arks can be repositioned when necessary and this allows easier rotation of their grazing land.

For pigs kept indoors, the sleeping area (which is different from the exercise and ‘toilet’ area) should be large enough to allow all the pigs to lie on their sides.  Outdoors, about five or six pigs per acre is generally acceptable, as long as the soil is well drained.  If you don’t provide enough room for your pigs to move about, they won’t thrive.  Tension will build and behavioural problems such as tail-biting will result.

Fencing 

Pigs can be fenced by traditional pig wire, or by electric fencing.  The benefit of electric fencing is that it can easily be moved.  Pigs will sometimes dig under fences, so it’s best to use a very tight strand of barbed wire at the base of an ordinary pig fence to discourage it.  It’s important to check your fence regularly though, whatever type you use.

 

 


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