Although there are as many pig production systems as individual farms, these farming systems can be divided into two main categories: indoor or outdoor pig production.
Pigs raised on indoor pig farms are kept in relatively small, tightly controlled areas, often with some form of climate control, usually with liquid feeding systems, and [increasingly] healthy. "These systems are often referred to as factory or "intensive" production.
Outdoor pigs are characterized by placing breeding pigs [sows and cubs] on freely drained arable land, one to two years at each location, using ' arks' and electric fences. Now, more than one-third of the British herds are kept in this way, and more and more pigs are raised to slaughter outdoors.
Both systems have their advantages ' and let us start by checking the positive characteristics of both.
Indoors, you have the advantage of environmental control: piglets can be born and raised at the right temperature; adult animals can stay cool in the summer, keep warm in the winter - they also have no chance of being sunburned; and can control airflow, especially for pigs The occurrence of healthy and harmful air currents. You can also control the feed intake of rented pigs and better reduce waste [very important on the day of increased feed costs] - it is also easy to install computer-controlled feeding methods such as automatic sow feeders and for fattening Liquid feed. Because of the ability to control feed and the environment, indoor farms tend to be more productive than outdoor farms - enabling higher levels of supervision and measurement to control many variables in the indoor environment. It also creates and maintains a high health status for your herd, significantly reducing disease risk and challenges.
In outdoor activities, you can benefit from significantly lowering capital costs, lowering operating costs, and enjoying the true marketing benefits of free food and outdoor breeding on these days. Even organic controls may be persuaded to buy consumers of this environmental friendship at a high price. Outdoor pigs have higher operating benefits [more natural, more able to express their inner pigs and need weeding and fresh arable land.
Great advantage, but what are the disadvantages?
Indoors, the setup cost is three times higher than the outdoor unit [based on each sow]. Energy costs are high and slurry processing can be a problem [although arable boys are welcome once they spread and integrate into the soil], and of course a huge cost. The high population density of dense farms also has its own problems: if they can enter the herd, the disease will spread like wildfire and the smell will become annoying, especially in hot weather. Welfare considerations are also very important - it is easier to break indoors than to be outside [taking into account stocking density and environmental enrichment].
Outdoors, the biggest problem is productivity and extreme weather [on my outdoor unit, I saw no water when coming out of a four-inch valve in winter]. Getting high-quality employees is also a growing problem - every day outside is not necessarily idyllic. Pest control and group health are also a potential problem, as feeding management should be kept outdoors [appet control, feed conversion rate, growth rate and feed waste will all be major challenges to health and high prices to justify].
You have it. As they say, "swings and roundabouts" - "six of six, six more." Perhaps the best compromise - well-designed building and mud management systems, pipe feeding fat pigs [eg using dairy waste], loose houses and lots of straw. By investing in some high-favority features, such as an electronic sow feeder and ample environmental enrichment, and maintaining a high level of health, maybe you will have the best of both worlds? One thing I know is that pigs are as tragic as we are in snow, cold, wet and windy days, and like us, they find that airflow and high temperatures are equally uncomfortable.
Orignal From: Pig raising - indoor or outdoor?
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