• Either naturally or
mechanically ventilated, or a combination of the two,
depending on the season.
• Bedding optional.
• Number of pigs per pen usually restricted to 20 to 50,
with space allowance per pig dependent on the stage of
production.*
• Reasonable control of the
environment.
• Separation of manure from the pig resulting in fewer
opportunities for disease transmission.
• Easy to clean and disinfect.
• Multiple pens allow for split-sex
feeding and separation of pigs by
weight.
• Excellent parasite control opportunities.
• Multiple pens and feeders allow for age-appropriate diets
to be fed.
• Less time required for observing and
managing pigs.
• High investment in a single
purpose building.
• Possible power outages can be deadly.
• Pig completely dependent upon the management skills of the
caretaker.
• Diseases can spread easily when pigs are in close contact
with each other.
Barn
(Confinement)
• A lower-cost facility.
• Deep bedding used to absorb manure, which is handled as a
solid.
• Usually used for gestation and grow-finish pigs.
• Usually not used for farrowing but can be used seasonally
for nursery pigs.
• Group sizes often 100 or more.
• Space per pig 50 percent or more than for confinement
pigs.
• Low investment cost per pig.
• Multiple-use building (can be used for
other storage purposes if not
for pigs).
• Reasonable control of the environment
with adequate bedding.
• Lots of bedding required plus
a place to store the bedding.
• Can be difficult to cool pigs in hot, humid weather.
• More difficult to identify and treat sick pigs.
• Difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Difficult to separate pigs from the manure.
• More time required for handling and bedding pigs.
Hoop
• Used for all stages of
production, with obvious seasonal limitations for winter
production in some parts of the United States
• Some of the more “modern”
pasture production systems involve intensive production
management and pasture rotation.
• Low cost of facilities, but the
opportunity cost of the land for crop production must be
considered.
• “Traditional” pasture systems of two farrowings per year
are much easier to manage.
• Ability to disperse pigs over
a large
area and heat/sunshine reduces pig-topig
disease transmission.
• Low cost of facilities.
• Lots of opportunity for exercise.
• Quality forage on the pasture can
meet a portion of pigs’ nutritional
needs.
• Minimal control of the
environment.
• Difficult to clean and disinfect, requiring adequate
pastures to
allow for rotation to clean ground each year.
• Controlling predators necessary.
• Control of diseases spread by wild animals.
• Managing in cold, hot or rainy weather.
• Parasite control needed.
• More time required for individually treating and handling
pigs.
