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Unit Layout:
After selection of a suitably isolated site it is now the time to design the building layout. More Info.
The factors to take into account are:
- The hog exit point, the loading ramp and the sale collection area should be sited on the edge of the planned unit beside the fattening buildings and as close to the exit from the farm as
possible.
- The sow gestation house should be at the opposite side of the site with farrowing next then nursery etc. From birth onwards the hogs should move towards the exit from the unit.
- Slurry collection and disposal area must be designed so as to give easy external access with no internal unit contact.
- Storage bins for delivery of ingredients or finished feed should be at the periphery of the unit.
- The office should be positioned so that the manager can see all transport movement into the farm. Canteen, toilet facilities, change and shower areas should also be combined into this building.
Give your staff adequate space and facilities to relax at breaks and lunch.
- The fumigation room for the entry of tools and small materials can be positioned at the office complex.
- The distance apart of buildings will depend on ventilation systems, space availability and the interest in reducing the micro-organism spread between buildings. It will also affect the system of
hog movement within the site.
- Is there a requirement to have a weigh-bridge on the unit? If you are purchasing all your feed externally and selling your hogs to an external source then it may be advisable to have control on
your inputs and outputs.
- In all site layout plans the potential for future expansion should be considered.
More Info.
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Building design:
All buildings should be designed to suit a specific number and type of stock.
General comments on building design:
- Decisions must be made about the number of animals produced per week, the number allocated to each air space or room. The problem of under or over production on any given week. More Info.
- The hogs produce the profit, therefore give them the space they require. More Info. Staff should visit with the stock in the pen.
- Floor area allocated to passageways must be sufficient for ease of movement of the heaviest animals leaving the building. All movement of stock within the unit should be a one-man operation and
easy for him to accomplish. If staff are required to weigh hogs in and out of each building then weighing facilities should be incorporated into the passageway system or into the trailer
transport.
- Each movement of a pen of hogs causes disruption, even though there is no mixing. The animals take time to settle into their new accommodation and during this period intake and growth rate can be
reduced.
- Keep the one age of animal in the same air space and from once a group is formed say in the nursery keep that group intact right through to sale. More Info.
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Optimising space:
Just a few thoughts and queries:
- Why in some designs are farrowing crates set in the middle of the farrowing pen? If enough space is allocated around the crate for piglet movement why not set up a defined creep rearing area
within the farrowing pen. The mature modern sow is a big animal so give her plenty of room. I have noticed in some designs of farrowing rooms a substantial amount of floor area committed to
passageways, are these all required? Give the space to the animal and let it be productive. More Info.
- Have you heard of "greedy pig disease"? This is a terrible affliction that affects owners and managers alike. One of the main symptoms is the attitude that if you can see the slats in a pen then
put more pigs in.
- Allow a generous space allocation for the animal. Remember it is not the density of stocking at point of entry but the density at point of exit that is critical. More Info. Nothing is surer to generate
problems than overstocking, it will reduce feed intake and growth rate, cause feed conversion efficiency to deteriorate, increase the risk of disease and initiate vices etc. More Info.
- Culled hogs that have for some reason failed to cope with the system must be accommodated in separate facilities right through to sale.
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Useful links:
Research Articles on Building Design and Unit Layout:
Swine Unit Layout
Planning Considerations
Farrowing Housing
Nursery Housing
Finishing Housing
Gestation Housing
Equipment
Construction
Pests
Corrosion in Swine Buildings
Research Articles on Ventilation:
Ventilation Index
Research Articles on Environment and Manure Handling:
Environment/Manure Index
Research Articles on Odor Control:
Odor Control Index
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General Research Articles:
Housing, Husbandry, and Welfare of Swine:
US Agriculture
Swine Scheduling
Iowa State University
PIH-100 Performance Guidelines for the Swine Operation
Purdue University
Effect of Early Weaning on Sow Reproductive Performance - A Review
University of Nebraska
PIH-55 Space Requirements for Swine
Purdue University
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