Raising pigs in the open: Part 2

In this second instalment of a two-part article that focused on raising pigs in outdoor enclosures, and how such a system could be profitable for farmers, we continue with housing for gestating sows.

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If the pregnant sows are kept in a permanent large enclosure, it is worth setting up a row of individual feeding stalls. No matter how far they wander, they will come running to the stalls when called at mealtimes.

If sows in large herds are farrowed in batches, it is worth visiting the huts every day to take newborn pigs from big litters and add them to small ones.

Evening up litter size in this way makes for a more uniform mass at weaning. When outside, sows seem to take to changelings more readily than when they are in farrowing crates indoors, where they tend to suffer from boredom and claustrophobia.

SERVICING SOWS

Service time is probably the most important stage in the production chain if output is to be satisfactory, but it can also be the most difficult outdoors. For a start, because supervision of service is impractical, boars have to be left to get on with the job, thus the choice of boars is crucial.