Iowa Farmer Today
10-25-07
Bedding keeps sows, pigs comfortable
By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
PAULLINA -- While the weather outside might be frightful, the winter farrowing
environment for Dan Wilson’s sows could be described as delightful.
Wilson, who operates a 160-sow, farrow-to-finish operation near here in O’Brien
County, uses two renovated barns, a greenhouse and a Swedish deep-bedding
system to farrow in the winter.
“We farrow out on the pasture until winter, when we bring the pigs in,” he says.
“We’ve been providing hogs for the Niman Ranch program since 1998, so we
need to have free-stall pens. We can’t use farrowing crates, and we need to give
the sows and pigs room to roam.”
Two renovated barns and the greenhouse are on Wilson’s farmstead. The other
facility using the Swedish system is located nearby at his brother Colin’s home.
In most years, Wilson moves sows into the winter farrowing facilities in
December. This year, he and his son, Torray, already have farrowed pigs
indoors.
“Usually, from December to March, we are indoors,” Wilson says.
The renovated barns have an open area for sows and pigs to move around.
Wilson built farrowing pens inside the barns, but sows are able to move freely
throughout the structure.
Watering systems are indoors, while sows also have the option to go outside.
Heat is provided through an LP forced-air furnace, Wilson says.
“You don’t have to have the temperature very high, just enough to provide some
warmth,” he says.
In the greenhouse, an LP-generated infrared heater is used. Very little
supplemental heat is provided in the deep-bedded system.
The greenhouse was built in 2000 and originally was intended for lambing.
Wilson used it one year for that purpose and has been using it for farrowing ever
since.
“We put the summer farrowing huts inside, and we really only need to provide
heat from about 4 p.m. to 8 a.m.,” he says. “Pigs will stay in there six to seven
weeks, like they do in the other facilities.”
Sows are brought into the greenhouse two days before they are due to farrow,
Wilson says.
“The greenhouse has about a foot of straw on the floor in the space between the
huts to keep the sows from rooting in the dirt floor.”
“The huts have about 6 inches of straw in them. Since the weather is usually cool
when we are farrowing in the greenhouse, we keep the building cold to
encourage the sows to go in the huts.”
Buildings are cleaned after each farrowing to help reduce biosecurity risk, Wilson
says.
Farrowing boxes are used in the deep-bedded facility, which was built in 1996.
Eventually, the sides and front of the boxes are removed, allowing sows and pigs
to roam the structure.
The ability to farrow in the winter could help producers benefit more from niche
markets, such as Niman Ranch, says Mark Honeyman, an animal scientist at
Iowa State University.
“They really have problems finding pigs in the winter, and that can impact the
growth of these niche markets,” he says. “In fact, many of these programs will not
accept new growers unless they agree to farrow in the winter.”
If producers are going to farrow in the winter, Honeyman says they have to go
indoors. He says the type of facility doesn’t matter, as long as it is protected from
the outside elements.
“You need to keep the piglets warm, dry and draft-free,” Honeyman says.
“Keeping them dry and away from a draft is really key because while a piglet can
stand cool temperatures, it cannot stand being wet and in a drafty environment.
“You can have the temperature 60 degrees and less, and most piglets should be
able to handle it.”
He says using zone heating is beneficial to the pigs.
“Heat lamps are one possibility, although you need to keep the sows away from
them to minimize any risk of a fire,” Honeyman notes.
Most producers will use straw for bedding because of its texture and its
absorbency, he says.
Buildings also need to be ventilated, Honeyman adds.
“The more you insulate and tighten a building, you are going to add humidity.
That’s not a good environment for any pig, so you need to be aware of ventilation
needs.”
Honeyman says producers who use this type of system may face higher costs of
production. More labor is involved, pigs grow more slowly, and feed efficiency
may not be as good as what producers might find in a confined structure, he
explains.
“That’s something you have to consider, but in some cases, the premium you
receive for your pigs is enough to offset that.”
Wilson says his goal is to wean between eight and nine pigs per litter. He uses a
combination of Chester White, Berkshire and Spot genetics.
“We tinker with genetics, using both A.I. and natural mating,” Wilson says. “You’d
always like to have a few more pigs, and we’re working on it.”
Biosecurity is also a concern. Wilson has a closed herd for the most part with
new genetics introduced through artificial insemination.
“We have a pretty extensive vaccination program, and we’re pretty careful about
what comes onto the farm.”
Wilson says there is more labor involved in his program but believes the benefits
far outweigh any negatives.
“We like the fresh air and being around the pigs much more than we did when we
tried a confinement building. We know it’s a little tougher, but if we can get the
pigs through the first couple of weeks, we know they have a very good chance of
making it,” he says.
“We just enjoy being outdoors with the pigs in the spring and summer, and the
winter farrowing environment is very comfortable for us and the pigs. I don’t think
we would change anything.”