Pig housing and outdoor runs

In short

• A fattening pig needs 1.5–2 m² indoors and 10–20 m² of run, a sow with piglets a pen of 6–8 m².
• The pig house has three areas: dry bed, feeding and dunging corner. The floor slopes 2–3 % towards the drain.
• Pigs don't sweat. In summer they need shade and a wallow, in winter a dry bed without draughts.
• The fence must stand up to rooting: an electric wire low to the ground, or strong netting dug into the soil.
• Biosecurity: no contact with wild boar or feral pigs, separate boots and clothes, a boot dip, no strangers, feed under cover.
• The manure heap stands on an impermeable base at least roughly 30 m from a well (100 ft is a common US rule of thumb).

What's inside

Chapters

1. Where to put the pig house and run
2. Sizes: how much room
3. A pig house for two pigs and a sow
4. Floor, bedding and mucking out
5. Troughs, feeders and drinkers
6. Summer, winter and air
7. Fencing and the run
8. Biosecurity: a pig house closed to disease
9. Manure and the manure heap
10. Handling pigs without injury
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Shopping list for a 6 × 3 m pig house
• Fence, bedding and manure calculator
• Sizes and a sketch of my pig house
• Biosecurity at the gate and every day
• Pig-house maintenance log
• Pig house and run maintenance calendar