Piggery Farming

Construction guidelines for farm

Construction guidelines for farm

1. Flooring

Flooring should be made of cement concrete with a rough/grooved surface to prevent slipping
It must be impervious (non-absorbent) and easy to clean
Provide a proper slope for drainage (approximately 3 cm per 2 m length)
Floor should be constructed using conventional masonry with cement mortar
Proper drainage channels must be provided for effective disposal of waste and effluents

2. Pig Sties (Housing Environment)

Adequate shade should be provided, preferably by planting trees around the piggery
Housing should protect pigs from extreme weather conditions

3. Floor Space Requirement for Different Categories of Pigs

Category of Pig

Roofed/Covered Area (m²)

Open Yard Area (m²)

Boar

6.0 – 7.5

8.8 – 12.0

Farrowing Sow

7.5 – 9.0

8.8 – 12.0

Weaner/Fattening Pig

0.9 – 1.8

0.9 – 1.2

Dry Sow/Gilt

1.8 – 2.7

1.4 – 1.8

4. Waterers and Feeders Requirements

Dimensions

Particulars

Adult Pigs (cm)

Growing Pigs (cm)

Length of manger per pig

60 – 75

25 – 35

Length of water trough per pig

60 – 80

30 – 40

Width of manger & water trough

Depth of manger & water trough

Height of manger & water trough

General Guidelines

Feeders and waterers should be placed inside the shed
Ensure easy access for all pigs to avoid competition

Daily Water Requirement (Approx.)

Boar: 40 – 50 litres/day
Farrowing sow: 18 – 20 litres/day
Fattening pigs: 3.5 – 4 litres/day
Dry sow: 4 – 5 litres/day

Factors Affectig Water Requirement

Age and body size of the animal
Environmental temperature
Humidity level
Dry matter content of the feed
Breed of pigs
Adaptability to local conditions
Season and prevailing weather conditions
Number of suckling piglets
Frequency of water supply
Quality of feed provided

6. Quality of Water

Water provided to pigs should be:

Clean and fresh
Free from odour
Colourless and tasteless
Free from impurities and harmful substances
Free from disease-causing organisms and parasitic eggs/larvae

7. Walls of Pig Houses

Solid brick wall: up to 60 cm height
Above brick wall: tubular iron (pipe) railings up to 150 cm
Total wall height (for roofing): approximately 200 cm

8. Roofing of Pig Sties

Roofing materials may include:
Asbestos sheets
Zinc sheets
Tiles
Coconut leaves (in low-cost housing)
Height of side walls should be maintained at 2 to 2.5 metres

9. Doors

Standard size: 2 m × 1 m
Doors should be strong and fitted close to the floor
This prevents pigs from lifting them with their snout

10. Guard Rails / Pig Fenders

Purpose:

To prevent crushing of piglets by the sow in farrowing pens

Material:

Galvanized iron pipes (about 5 cm diameter)

Construction Details:

Height above floor: 25 cm
Distance from wall: 20 cm
Space between rails: 10 cm

Important Notes:

Usually, weaker or less active piglets are more prone to crushing
Piglets can move under the rails when the sow lies down, avoiding injury
Requirement of guard rails may be reduced if pig brooders are used

11. Types of Pig Houses / Sties

1. Boar Sty

Should be dry and well-ventilated
Provide adequate resting/sleeping space
Only one boar per pen
Arrange boar pens in a row under a single roof

2. Dry Sow / Gilt Sty

Can accommodate 3 to 10 animals per pen
Dry sows and gilts can be housed together

3. Farrowing Pen

Used for pregnant sow/gilt 2 weeks before farrowing
Should provide enough space for sow and piglets during nursing period (12–14 days)

Size:

7.5 – 9 m² (approx. 8 × 10 ft)

Important Points:

Ideal temperature: around 20°C
Provide heating arrangements (e.g., electric bulbs) during winter

Floor Slope Advantage:

Sloped floor helps sow lie towards higher side
Piglets move to lower side, reducing crushing risk

Bedding:

Provide 10–15 cm thick bedding, especially in winter
Bedding should be clean, dry, and evenly spread

4. Fattening Pig Sty

Capacity: 20–30 pigs per pen
Used for pigs raised for market (meat production)

5. Weaner Sty

For piglets from 8 weeks to 6 months of age
Maximum 30 pigs per pen