Want to raise pigs safely and efficiently in winter? Managing these three aspects is key

Winter temperatures are low and the weather is cold, which is not conducive to the normal growth and development of pigs, and also makes them prone to illness. Therefore, safe pig raising in winter should revolve around the theme of cold protection, and specifically the following three aspects should be grasped:

1. Increasing the temperature

There are many ways to raise the temperature of the pig house, but there are four simple, economical, and practical methods:

1. Cover open-style pig houses with plastic film. It is best to cover with double-layer plastic film. Although the cost is higher than single-layer plastic film covering, the insulation effect is better. This method is suitable for fattening pig houses and non-lactating sow houses.

2. Closed-style pig-raising workshops use boiler-type heating supply.

3. Open-style pig houses use heating supply plus plastic film covering.

4. Heating supply plus electric heaters, suitable for lactating sow houses.

2. Pig house conditions

1. The outer walls of the pig house must be thick and tight. The rear wall, gable wall, and front wall of the pig house should be given additional insulation measures in winter. For this purpose, crop straw can be piled up, and temporary earthen adobe can be built. It is best to thicken the four outer walls when the pig house is first built. For old pig houses, the remaining gaps in the walls, doors, and windows should be sealed tightly in time.

2. The floor of the pig house must be dry. Manure and sewage should be removed promptly and cleaned thoroughly. To facilitate drying, the pig house should have a concrete floor.

3. Add bed boards. During the piglet stage, where conditions permit, it is best to use warm bed boards such as wooden boards, bamboo boards, and thickened fiberboards. If conditions do not permit, cement precast slabs can be laid.

4. Increase the lighting area of the pig house. When the pig house is first built, the lighting area of the pig house should be considered. Open-style pig houses should have a relatively large open area so that plastic film can be covered in winter to facilitate lighting. Closed-style pig houses should reserve windows on the south wall and roof so that glass can be installed in winter.

3. Feeding management

1. Do not let pigs drink cold water. Cold water should be boiled into warm water before being given to pigs to drink.

2. Moderately increase the energy level in the feed, which can be increased by about 10% on the basis of the original feed energy level. For large pigs, a little lower; for small pigs, a little higher. For small pigs, oil-based high-energy feed can be added. For large pigs, the amount of ordinary energy feed such as corn in the mixed feed can be increased.

3. Appropriately increase stocking density. When stocking density is high, the floor area occupied by each pig is reduced, and they can warm each other by lying close together. At the same time, when pig stocking density is high, their bodies also release more heat, which helps increase the temperature inside the house.

4. Increase the number of feedings. The purpose of increasing the number of feedings is to relatively increase feed intake, so as to fill the weight loss caused by the heat produced by fat and muscle metabolism in pigs due to low temperatures. Where conditions permit, it is best to adopt free feeding. Where feeding at fixed times is practiced, one additional feeding can be added in the evening.