Abstract
Hoop structures are large simple, tentlike shelters that can be used for pigs. The pigs are kept inside the hoopstructure and large bales, e.g. straw or cornstalks, are used for bedding. A typical hoop structure (10 30 m) holds about200 market pigs. Bedding is added every two to six weeks as needed until the pigs are marketed at which time clean out occurs.Three demonstrational trials were conducted in Iowa. The pigs were fed from 26 to 117 kg. Pig performance in hoops wasacceptable (ADG=.83 kg/d, FE=3.42 kg feed/kg gain) with 9% poorer feed efficiency in winter. Growth rate was equal toor slightly more than typical for pigs in conventional confinement. Pig mortality was less than 3%. Average bedding use was100 kg per pig in winter and 55 kg per pig in summer. The hoop manure can be composted readily. The bedding pack wasvariable with some areas actively composting on site in the hoop, generating temperatures up to 62 C. An economic analysisshowed similar total costs of production with the hoops having lower fixed costs and higher variable costs than in conventionalconfinement. The higher variable costs are due to bedding and extra feed and labor. Hoop structures offer a feasiblealternative production system for sustainable swine production in Iowa and surrounding areas.
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