How to Keep Pig Pens Warm in Winter? 4 Practical Methods to Teach You
Winter temperatures are extremely low, and pigs are animals that are quite sensitive to cold. In winter, pigs often catch colds and cough because of the chill, so winter insulation management has become the most important task for pig farmers. Winter is here, so do not be afraid. Let us teach you 4 methods for keeping pig pens warm in winter!
1. Control stocking density
In winter, many farmers still keep the same stocking density of one pig per pen as in spring and summer. Naturally, the temperature in the pig pen will then be too low, making the pigs prone to catching cold. In winter, stocking density should be appropriately increased. The greater the density, the higher the temperature in the pig pen. Adjust pigs to different stocking densities according to their growth stages, and make sure that after the pigs lie down in each pen there are no gaps.
2. Add farrowing boxes
Adding farrowing boxes is mainly to protect piglets, because piglets have very weak self-insulation ability, and the growing temperature for piglets cannot be lower than 30 degrees. To ensure the survival rate of piglets, an appropriate number of farrowing boxes should be added to the pig pen. There is also skill in choosing farrowing boxes, as they come in various types made from materials such as wood, rubber compounds, and thin iron plates. Wooden farrowing boxes have poor flexibility, and farrowing boxes made of rubber compounds are of poor quality, so it is best to choose farrowing boxes made of thin iron plates.
3. Set up a ceiling
A ceiling is a necessary step in building a pig pen. A ceiling can effectively prevent the temperature in the pig pen from dropping and can provide very good insulation for the pig pen. When building a ceiling, materials such as wooden boards can be used. Using wooden boards to build a ceiling is not only low in cost, but wood is also an effective material for blocking air. After building the ceiling, coat it with asphalt to prevent rot over time, then lay a layer of insulation on the ceiling to make the insulation effect better. The role of the ceiling is very good; it can not only effectively keep warmth, but also prevent direct sunlight from shining on the pigs and causing stress reactions in them.
4. Lay bedding straw
Laying bedding straw can be done at the same time as increasing stocking density. This is an important measure to prevent dampness and increase temperature, and bedding straw can completely use the stalks of various crops, so the cost can be ignored. However, the bedding straw must be replaced regularly. The replaced bedding straw can be fermented together with pig manure to form farmyard manure, achieving two goals at once. The caution when laying bedding straw is to prevent the straw from becoming damp and to replace it regularly. Try to lay the bedding straw in the areas where the pigs lie down, and prevent the pigs from defecating and urinating on the bedding straw.
The above is Tuliu.com's introduction to 4 methods for keeping pig pens warm in winter. In fact, there are many insulation methods; the text above only discusses a few relatively common methods with good results. Pigs grow very slowly in winter, so insulation measures need to be done well.