What Is Fermentation Bed Pig Farming? A Detailed Guide to Precautions

Everyone must be familiar with the traditional pig farming model, but it has many problems: it requires a lot of effort, and the manure excreted pollutes the environment, among others. In order to develop an environmentally friendly pig farming model, fermentation bed pig farming emerged at the right time. What exactly is this model, which is called the natural pig farming method and the lazy man's pig farming method? What precautions should be taken during farming?

I. What is fermentation bed pig farming?

Another name for the fermentation bed pig farming method is the dry, odorless pig farming method. An organic bedding material is used to build a fermentation bed; the manure excreted by the pigs is buried by the bedding material, the moisture is evaporated by the heat generated during the fermentation process, and the manure is decomposed by microorganisms, so there is no odor. Generally, it takes only 3 days for the manure to be completely decomposed by microorganisms; throughout the entire raising process there is no need to use water to flush away the manure, and the water required only needs to be enough for the pigs to drink, so it is also called the dry, odorless pig farming method.

II. What precautions are there for fermentation bed pig farming?

1. Site selection requirements

Because pig raising requires clean and fresh feed and drinking water, and the pens must be dry and well ventilated, low-lying, damp and foul-air environments can easily lead to parasitic diseases and hoof diseases. Therefore, the pens should as far as possible be chosen in dry, flat, wind-sheltered, sunny locations, and sandy soil that is breathable and permeable to water is best. If the terrain around the pens is relatively low, the ground can be treated as a “stilted house” with slatted floors, leaving 10-20cm of space below to prevent excess water from soaking the bedding material, and also to avoid the surrounding.

2. Bedding material preparation: the thickness of the bedding material layer of a pig farming fermentation bed is generally slightly lower than the thickness of the pigpen fermentation bed. Calculated at 40-50 cm, the bedding material source can use sawdust alone or a combination of sawdust, rice husks and straw.

3. Strain preparation

Dosage: 1 kilogram of fermentation aid can build 10-12 square meters of pigpen. The area of a single pen must not be too small; 40-50 square meters is recommended. The stocking density must not be too high; about 2 square meters per pig is recommended.

Dilution: the fermentation aid must be evenly mixed and diluted with rice bran (or cornmeal) at a ratio of bacterial agent : rice bran (or cornmeal) = 1:5 or more (the nutritional effect of fresh rice bran is better than that of old rice bran).

4. Fermentation bed construction

Mix the diluted bacterial strain with the prepared bedding material. To achieve an even effect, a multi-stage dilution method can also be used; you can also first lay a bottom layer of about 10 cm of a rice husk and sawdust mixture, then begin to evenly sprinkle in the rice-bran-diluted bacterial material to cover it evenly, then spread on another 10 cm of rice husk and sawdust mixture, and repeat the above operation by sprinkling in the diluted bacterial strain mixture until a 40-50CM thick bedding layer is reached. If conditions permit, brown sugar water may be appropriately sprayed (can be prepared at 70 sq m / kilogram) into the rice bran and bacterial agent mixture.

5. Fermentation rhythm and temperature control

During fermentation, if you reach your hand into the inner layer below 10 cm, you can feel heat, which is caused by the fermentation bed working, and it is accompanied by the fresh scent of alcohol and soil. The fermentation rhythm and temperature of the pen can be controlled manually. To raise the temperature and ferment quickly, one or several of the following comprehensive measures can be taken: increase the amount of fermentation aid, pre-activate the fermentation bacterial agent with brown sugar water, add more nutrients such as fresh rice bran or urea water, increase the thickness of the sawdust layer, increase the number of turnings and punch holes for ventilation, appropriately raise the water content of the sawdust mixture (but the moisture content of the mixture must not exceed 70%, otherwise odor will be produced due to fermentation and decomposition by spoilage bacteria, running counter to the purpose of deodorization), and so on. The opposite measures can be used to lower the temperature. The internal temperature generally should not exceed 50°C, the core fermentation layer should not exceed 60°C, and the surface temperature should be below 25-30°C.

6. Fermentation state

After normal operation, the material in the lower layer of the fermentation bed gradually becomes darker and black, has no odor but a faint smell of alcohol, and the temperature is basically stable; sometimes white mycelium can be seen. At this time, if fertilizer or coarse feed is needed, part of it can be cleared and transported out of the pen; if not needed, it can also be left uncleared for many years.