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Raising Feeder Pigs in Hoop Structures
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Pig production
costs have been reduced by about $4 per hog in hoop barns, built
at a fraction of the bill to erect a confinement structure.
Photo by Jerry DeWitt |
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Tent-like shelters that house hogs
for a fraction of the cost of a typical confinement house, hoop structures
are gaining in popularity as producers realize the benefits of this
simple structure that resembles a giant, opaque greenhouse. Originally
developed in Canada, “hoops” usually hold up to 250 hogs on an earthen
floor that is heaped with a generous amount of bedding. The structures
are topped with 15-feet-high steel arches covered with fabric tarps.
Iowa State University researchers
found that initial investment was about one-third cheaper for hoop barns
than confinement barns. Confinement operations cost a producer $180
per pig space versus just $55 for a space in a hoop structure. Initial
hoop barn construction costs vary from $9,000 to $16,200 to hold 200
head – compared to $150,000 to $200,000 for confinement structures that
hold 1,000 head.
“Hoops are attractive to a lot of people
who don’t have a lot of equity to invest,” said Mike Brumm, an extension
swine specialist at the University of Nebraska. “They can pay the day-to-day
costs, but don’t have to come up with the big money up front.” Hoop
structures are “favorable to beginning farmers who don’t have the equity.”
Most hoop structures are used for finishing
feeder pigs. Since 1996, close to 3,000 hoop structures have been built
in Iowa, where much of the research into alternative swine housing systems
is taking place. At Iowa State University, a team of researchers comparing
finishing pigs in hoops versus confinement systems found that “hoop
pigs” grew slower in winter and were less efficient than the confinement
pigs. In summer, however, the opposite was true.
Yet, weight gain must be compared to
costs of production. Overall pig production costs in hoops have been
reduced by approximately $4 per hog, according to the nonprofit information
clearinghouse, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA).
Deep bedding really works as a source
of heat. In the winter, researchers have recorded bedding temperatures
in hoops to be at least 80º F.
Another big difference between hoop
barns and standard hog confinement houses is air flow. While hoop barns
are naturally ventilated, confinement systems have forced air systems
that rely on electrical power. If a farmer experiences a blackout, the
fans cut out and the pigs may die from toxic gas buildup. Most confinement
systems therefore include backup generators, which are an added expense
and worry for producers. By contrast, Canadian researchers have found
that 94 percent of hogs raised in hoop barns exhibited normal lung function,
compared with 70 percent of the hogs reared in confinement.
Pigs raised in hoops may develop internal
parasites, so aggressive worming is recommended. Otherwise, pigs in
hoops are reportedly quite healthy, with foot and leg problems greatly
reduced. (See “Animal Health” in Part II.)
Hoop structures require labor to unload bedding, haul solid manure and
check pigs.
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| When evaluating hoop houses: |
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Remember that a supply of good-quality bedding
is a major consideration. |
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Expect higher feeding costs. During the colder
months, pigs in hoop structures may need about 10 percent more
feed than their confinement counterparts to recover the energy
spent keeping warm. |
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Make sure you have the equipment necessary for
manure loading and handling.. |
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Develop an internal parasite control program. |
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Take advantage of the versatility of hoop structures,
which may be used for other livestock or storage needs. |
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