SAPPO Training Course

1
SAPPO Training Course

• Housing for small Piggeries 2
• Why house pigs at all? Because-
• It makes for better biosecurity
• It reduces parasites mange, worms, ticks
• It allows controlled feeding
• It makes treatment easier
• It reduces theft

2
Housing for small Piggeries

• Welfare aspects
• Keeping dry sows outside is often successful,
  provided there is plenty of space and good
  shelter for all.
• Free range systems sound fine , but-
• There is little disease control
• Free access to toxic plants, human excreta
• Bullying is not eliminated
• Rough stony ground, dirty wallows, Ascaris eggs
• Feeding is not controlled

3
Housing for small piggeries

• Intensive housing is not all bad-
• Individuals can be observed, treated, fed,
  protected individually
• Record-keeping is much easier, so production is
  easily measured
• Space is more economically used
• All-in all-out systems become possible

4
Housing for small piggeries

• Is there a practical, affordable compromise?
• Consider the pigs housing needs, such as-
• Protection from bad weather
• Protection from direct sun, and extreme
  temperatures
• Protection from each other
• Protection from thirst, hunger, pain, fear,
  injury
• Protection from mishandling by cruel or careless
  people

5
Housing for small piggeries

• Whatever housing system is used, it can be made
  to work, provided that good farming practice is
  understood and applied.
• Be receptive to the messages that pigs are
  sending out all the time
• Be aware of the pigs needs
• Be informed about what remedy to apply
• Have the resources to carry out the necessary
  correction

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Housing for small piggeries

• Specifications for the construction of pig pens
• It must be pig-proof
• It should have a hard drained cleanable floor
• It must have clear areas for sleeping, eating,
  dunging
• Water must be provided in secure, clean
  containers in every pen drinking nipples are
  best
• Different age groups need separate pens
• Face the pens away from the worst weather and
  cold winds
• Ensure good light and ventilation

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Housing for small piggeries

• Some dimensions (see sketches on p19)
• An all- purpose pen can be
• 4m by 3m i.e. 12 square metres,
• Roof will be 3m x 3m or 3m x 4m in area, sloping
  from back to front height 2.5m at back, 1.65 in
  front
• Where sows and piglets share the same pen, a
  creep area across the rear of 1m x 3m keeps sow
  from creep feed and piglet sleeping area
• Floor slopes 1 to gate and drain outside and
  to a pond or soak-away.

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This all-purpose pen will accommodate any of the
following-

• 1 or 2 sows with litters (this pen will have a
  creep area)
• 2 or 3 litters of weaned pigs up to 10 weeks old
• 4 dry sows or gilts
• 1 boar with a couple of sows
• 15 grower pigs up to 70kg live mass or
• 12 baconers up to 90 - 95 kg live mass
• Note a general rule for space per pig is to
  allow at least 1sq m per 100 kg of live pig in
  closed pens boars and sows need double or more .

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Housing for small piggeries

• There are cheaper alternatives that are quite
  acceptable using locally available materials and
  ingenuity can go a long way, provided that the
  basic specs are met.
• The following pictures show some examples of
  inexpensive housing that has been built with an
  understanding of the needs of pigs of all ages
  there are also some that do not meet
  requirements.

10
An inexpensive all-purpose pen as sketched here
has been used successfully for small commercial
piggeries
One version with walls poles or pipes or even
old pallets will be fine and improve contact
between neighbouring pens.