Pig farming: inside or outside?

Although there are as many pig production systems as there are individual farms, these can be divided into two main types: indoor or outdoor pig production.

Indoor pig farms feature herds of pigs kept in a relatively small and tightly controlled area, usually with some form of climate control, often with liquid feeding systems, and (increasingly) “high health”. These systems are often referred to as ‘factory’ or ‘intensive’ production.

Free-range pigs include breeding pigs (sows and litters) kept in free-draining crop fields for one to two years per site, using ‘arks’ and electric fencing. More than a third of the UK herd is now kept this way, with an increasing number of pigs also being reared outdoors to slaughter weight.

Both systems have their ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ – let’s start by looking at the positive features 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 summer and warmer in winter; they also do not have the opportunity to get sunburned; and the flow of air can be controlled, especially the occurrence of drafts, which are so detrimental to the health of pigs. You can also control the feed intake of housed pigs and can better reduce waste (so important in these days of rising feed costs). It is also easy to install computer controlled feeding methods such as automatic sow feeders and liquid feed for finishing. values. Indoor farms tend to be more productive than outdoor farms given the ability to control feed and environment: a higher level of monitoring and measurement and therefore control of many variables is possible in an indoor situation. It is also possible to establish and maintain a high health status for your herd, significantly reducing disease risks and challenges.

Outdoors, however, you would benefit from greatly reduced capital costs, lower running costs, a real marketing benefit these days when “free food,” “outdoor maid” and even “organic “They dominate consumers who might be persuaded to part with a price premium for such environmental friendliness. There is a perception of greater welfare in the operation for the outdoor pig (more natural, more able to express its ‘inner pig’). Finally, there is the very real advantage of using pigs as a ‘break crop’, ‘cleaning’ and fertilizing a piece of arable land that needs weeding and cooling.

Great advantages, but what about the disadvantages?

Indoors, installation costs are three times higher (per sow) than for an outdoor unit. Energy costs are high and liquid manure disposal can be a problem (although welcomed by growers once spread and incorporated into the soil), and certainly a significant cost. The high population density of an intensive farm also has its own problems: diseases spread like wildfire if they gain access to the herd, and the smell can become offensive, especially on hot days. Welfare considerations are also very important: it’s easier to break the law indoors than outdoors (population densities and environmental enrichment come to mind).

Outdoors, the biggest issues are lower productivity and extreme weather conditions (on my outdoor unit I watched water freeze when it came out of a four-inch valve on a cistern one winter). Getting quality staff is also a growing problem: every day outdoors is not necessarily idyllic. Vermin control and herd health are also a potential issue, as is management of the feed herd if it is kept outdoors (appetite control, feed conversion, growth rates and food waste will be big challenges that will require healthy eating). premium price to justify).

There you go. “Swings and roundabouts,” as they say, “six of one and half a dozen of another.” Perhaps a compromise is best: well-designed buildings and slurry management systems, with fat pipe-fed pigs (using dairy waste, for example), loose housing, and plenty of straw. Throw in some high welfare features like electronic sow feeders and lots of environmental enrichment, and maintain a high health status, then maybe you have the best of both worlds? One thing I know for sure is that pigs are just as miserable as we are on snowy, icy, rainy and windy days, and just like us they are equally uncomfortable with drafts and high temperatures.

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