Hoop Structures for Swine Hoop Structures for Swine HousingHousing

Presented by Tommy Bass and Mike DanielPresented by Tommy Bass and Mike Daniel

2005 Georgia Pork Congress, Macon GA2005 Georgia Pork Congress, Macon GA

University of Georgia University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesCollege of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Solid versus Liquid WastesSolid versus Liquid Wastes

Solid WasteSolid Waste– low accident low accident

potentialpotential– compostablecompostable– cheaper to haulcheaper to haul– easier to exporteasier to export– simpler simpler

management management (loading, stacking, (loading, stacking, spreading)spreading)

Liquid WasteLiquid Waste– accident potential accident potential

and liabilityand liability– expensive to haulexpensive to haul– difficult to exportdifficult to export– complicated complicated

management management (flushing, pumping (flushing, pumping and irrigating)and irrigating)

– public perception, public perception, NIMBYNIMBY

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Hoop structures Hoop structures are naturally-are naturally-ventilated ventilated structures that structures that have a heavy have a heavy fabric roof. fabric roof.

Sidewalls are Sidewalls are wooden, block or wooden, block or poured.poured.

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Reflective tarps are Reflective tarps are used to reflect used to reflect solar radiation to solar radiation to prevent over-prevent over-heating.heating.

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Roofs are supported Roofs are supported by tubular archesby tubular arches

Hoops wider than 38´ Hoops wider than 38´ generally use trusses generally use trusses

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Tarps are held in Tarps are held in place by winch or place by winch or ratcheting straps.ratcheting straps.

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

The north end is The north end is generally closed generally closed during winter during winter except a small area except a small area for ventilation. for ventilation.

Various ends are Various ends are available. This one available. This one uses tracks uses tracks

Others provide Others provide more open space more open space for ventilation.for ventilation.

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Hoops are often Hoops are often used for finishing used for finishing pigs. pigs.

Plentiful, high Plentiful, high quality deep quality deep bedding is the key.bedding is the key.

Hoop BasicsHoop Basics

Sow gestation is Sow gestation is another common another common use for hoops. use for hoops.

Sow feeding is an Sow feeding is an important decision.important decision.

Animal Health and Animal Health and PerformancePerformance

Pigs fed in hoops compared to Pigs fed in hoops compared to partially slatted confinementpartially slatted confinement– excellent healthexcellent health– similar rates of gainsimilar rates of gain

faster in summer, slower in winter faster in summer, slower in winter

– similar feed efficiency, similar feed efficiency, except in cold winter months (Canada)except in cold winter months (Canada)

– lower mortalitylower mortality

Connor, 1993 and 1994, Manitoba Swine Seminar ProceedingsConnor, 1993 and 1994, Manitoba Swine Seminar Proceedings

LaborLabor

Per pig labor is no more than in Per pig labor is no more than in confinement, however tasks are confinement, however tasks are distinctivedistinctive– checking pigs, walking through bedded checking pigs, walking through bedded

areaarea– Storing and handling round bales, straw, Storing and handling round bales, straw,

shavings or other beddingshavings or other bedding– hauling solid manure/litterhauling solid manure/litter

CostCost

Iowa research, Canadian research Iowa research, Canadian research and Iowa farmer data showed hoops:and Iowa farmer data showed hoops:– lower heating, maintenance and utilities lower heating, maintenance and utilities

costcost– increased winter feed costincreased winter feed cost– new expense in beddingnew expense in bedding– lower initial investmentlower initial investment

This data showed slight advantage to This data showed slight advantage to hoops ($3.50 per pig)hoops ($3.50 per pig)

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

3 bedded hoop 3 bedded hoop barnsbarns

2 hoop roofs over 2 hoop roofs over slatted floorsslatted floors

1 hoop barn for 1 hoop barn for composting composting operation and some operation and some dry waste storagedry waste storage

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

Finish pigs at UGAFinish pigs at UGA Bedded on Bedded on

shavings/saw dustshavings/saw dust

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

Slab between Slab between barns for barns for working and working and loading loading animalsanimals

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

Fresh Bedding in Fresh Bedding in cleaned-out barncleaned-out barn

Waste is Waste is exportedexportedoff siteoff site

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

Mortalities are Mortalities are composted in a composted in a hoop barn not hoop barn not used for livestockused for livestock

Safe from run-offSafe from run-off Limited Limited

scavenger accessscavenger access

Hoop Barns at UGAHoop Barns at UGA

Gestation/breeding Gestation/breeding barnbarn

Hoop roof was Hoop roof was added to old added to old confinement confinement building building foundationfoundation

Fans used for Fans used for increased increased ventilationventilation

Take Home PointsTake Home Points

Cost benefit: break even or slight favor Cost benefit: break even or slight favor to hoopsto hoops

Labor: break even or slight favor to Labor: break even or slight favor to hoopshoops

Maintenance: favor to hoopsMaintenance: favor to hoops Feed: cold climate favor to confinement, Feed: cold climate favor to confinement,

southern data not well organizedsouthern data not well organized Waste/Environment: major favor to Waste/Environment: major favor to

hoopshoops

Additional Questions/NeedsAdditional Questions/Needs

Need more data for southeast; Need more data for southeast; additional analysisadditional analysis

Health issues related to bedding Health issues related to bedding – initial UGA experience and research initial UGA experience and research

(Jones)(Jones)– worms, liver ascarids (Thacker et. al., worms, liver ascarids (Thacker et. al.,

Iowa State)Iowa State) Inexpensive and readily available Inexpensive and readily available

bedding enhances cost advantagebedding enhances cost advantage

Additional InformationAdditional Information

http://www.abe.iastate.edu/research.asp– Click on: “Hoop Structures for Swine” in Click on: “Hoop Structures for Swine” in

the right hand list of topics.the right hand list of topics. http://www.agp2.org/aware

– Click on: “Search”, then type “hoop” Click on: “Search”, then type “hoop” and press “Enter”. and press “Enter”. Information for this presentation was obtained from the:

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University