What are the precautions for raising pigs in winter? A must-read for farmers

As winter approaches, pig farmers have something to worry about again. In winter, windproofing and temperature control are especially important, and the points to pay attention to have also changed accordingly. For farmers who handle it well, this is a great opportunity for fattening. So what exactly should be paid attention to when raising pigs in winter? Let's take a look below.

1. Windproofing

Many pig pens were built with ventilation in mind in summer, so when winter comes, extra effort must be put into windproofing. We should not underestimate the small drafts in a pig pen; these drafts can make it hard to raise the temperature inside the pen, and in serious cases can cause the pigs to catch cold, leading to a series of diseases. Before winter arrives, some of the more hidden drafts should be sealed off, and for windows with poor sealing, materials such as straw curtains can be added to reduce the harm of cold wind.

2. Heat preservation

The most important thing is heat preservation, which is most closely related to the pigs. In winter, the temperature inside the pig pen should basically be kept above 10°, as only at such a temperature can the pigs fatten normally. Heat preservation should be addressed in both the pig pen and the feeding. Generally, large pig pens are equipped with underfloor heating, which comes in water-heated and steam-heated types; the editor suggests installing water-heated heating, as the effect is relatively better. In terms of feeding, some high-calorie energy feed should be provided, and the food fed should be warm, and not too much should be given at one time, so as to avoid the food getting cold, which is not good for the pigs' growth.

3. Ventilation

Since winter pig pens are mostly kept sealed for raising pigs, the air in the pig pen is relatively hard to let out, but the manure in the pig pen produces a relatively large amount of gas, so for the pigs' health, ventilation must be taken seriously. The vent must not be close to the ground, nor very close to the pigs, because the temperature at the vent will be relatively low; a height of about 1-1.5 m is recommended. Ventilation should be carried out in stages, which can both maintain the temperature in the pig pen and achieve the ventilation effect.

4. Moisture prevention

Although the air in winter is relatively dry, the pig pen actually needs attention to moisture prevention. The liquid excreted by pigs is not easy to evaporate, and can easily make the bedding damp, leaving the pigs living in a cold environment and causing frostbite to the pigs' bodies. The steam from the food during feeding carries a lot of water vapor, and because the pig pen is kept warm, its ventilation effect is much poorer, which over time makes the overall environment of the pig pen relatively humid. In such an environment, pigs are very prone to getting sick, leading to a decline in fattening results. Generally speaking, as long as the bedding in the pig pen is kept relatively dry, diseases are basically unlikely to occur.

The above are some of the issues to pay attention to when raising pigs in winter. If the temperature is hard to maintain, you can build additional heating equipment yourself. If the air is too humid, you can place some desiccant inside the pig pen.