Osborne Industries, Inc. articles

If you’re thinking about raising some pigs of your own, take into consideration one of the most important aspects in raising the animals: their housing. How will you plan on housing your pigs? Several options exist other than the traditional “hog barn” which is most efficiently used with large groups of animals. If you are looking at raising just a few animals, consider these alternative options:

1. Hoop Barns

Hoop structures are Quonset-shap

Selecting the right Big Wheel Feeder for a small group of animals depends on the general age or size of animals and the total number of animals in the group. Ranging from a tiny, single-bushel nursery feeder for pigs as old as 10 days to a 2+ ton capacity outdoor finishing feeder, there’s a Big Wheel for virtually every application. Use the Big Wheel Feeder Selection Guide b

The most important part of swine production is in knowing the correct way to feed pigs. Whether browsing through a piglet feeding guide or studying swine management techniques, pigs need a high energy diet that is low in fiber that contains ample protein. Pigs will consume enormous amounts of food quickly. To raise and maintain a healthy stock, maximize growth and reproduction, and increase production, it is necessary to feed them the right food and a balanced diet from wean to finish.

Evidence for the domestication of sus scrofa domesticus - or in common parlance, the “domestic pig” - extends back over 10 thousand years ago, though the first examples of pig farrowing pens only appeared in the early 19th century. Some of the earliest examples come from the United Kingdom, where in 1807 “Mr. Pattinson’s Pig Cases” were promoted to produce healthier piglets.

Bridging issues in bulk feed tanks have been a longtime challenge faced by producers. Both bridging and “rat-holing” inside bulk bins owing to feeds with added fat, extra-fine grinding, and high heat and humidity contribute to inadequate feed flow through delivery systems and frequent out-of-feed events for animals across species. Repeated and unplanned out-of-feed occurrences can negatively affect ADFI and ADG.