Republic of the Philippines

PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY STATE UNIVERSITY

(Formerly Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU))
SAN MARCELINO CAMPUS
San Marcelino, Zambales

College/ College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine/BSA

Department Department
Course Code Animal Science 6
Course Title Swine Production
Place of Course in Core Course in Agriculture
the Program
Semester & Second Semester A. Y. 2020-2021
Academic Year

MODULE NO 6
HOUSING AND EQUIPMENT

I. Introduction
Together with feeds and nutrition, housing is equally important in swine
production. It is with utmost importance that swine be provided with housing
for them to be equally productive as to our expectation.
Module 6 aims to discuss the building orientation and cooling system, roofs,
wall and gates as well as the different housing unit in a system.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes

After reading and understanding the module, the students are expected to:
1. Appreciate the different housing and equipment of swine in general;
2. Identify the difference between the units in a housing system of a swine.

III. Discussion
Building Orientation and Cooling System
In designing a pig house, the first requirement is to protect the animals from
direct sunlight; thus, the long axis of the building must be laid in an east-west
direction. Air temperature, air velocity, floor insulation, infrared radiation, and relative
humidity determine the thermal environment around the animal, hence, should also
be considered.
Majority of pig houses in the country only allow for comparatively slow-air
velocity. To offset the ill effects if high temperature, a cooling system may be
provided. Blower fan with flexible ducts to achieve better air distribution may be
installed. Another approach is to install a sprinkle-nozzle system; either on the roof or
inside the building.
Roofs
Roofs must be designed to reduce the ambient heat load reaching the
animals and to provide for an efficient removal if the animal’s body heat. Common
roofing materials are made of corrugated galvanized iron (GI) sheet and heat
insulators. The roof’s outer surface must be light colored to efficiently reflect the sun’s
radiation, while the inner surface of the roof must be dark colored to minimize heat
build-up inside the house.
Partition Walls and Doors/Gates
Slatted partition walls made of round iron bars and G.I. pipes may be
adopted. Provide easy access to and from the pen. Doors must be durable with
security-tight locks. The most commonly used materials are round iron bar, round
black iron pipe, round G. I. pipe, square iron bar, flat bar, wood, or bamboo.
Housing System
Housing system and facilities depend on the size and extent of operation. For
a small-scale operation, adopt the conventional or all-purpose housing system. This
system combines several farm operations into one building. It can accommodate
non-pregnant and pregnant sows, gilts, and piglets. It can also be used for growing-
finishing operation.
Medium-scale and commercial farms may adopt the “life cycle” housing
system. This system is designed to provide the animal with proper space
requirements; maximize labor efficiency; and promote better biosecurity.
The life cycle housing system is composed of the following units: pregestation
and boar, gestation, farrowing and nursery, and growing-finishing.
Pregestation and boar unit – the breeding house must have sufficient space
to accommodate mating activities. Mating should take place in the boar’s pen
because of its labor and safety advantages.
The following are the requirements:
 The air moisture level (relative humidity) should be maintained at about 70%.
 Approximately 16-18 hours of light should be maintained daily.
 Facilities should allow close supervision and easy access to the pen during
mating.
 Boars should be housed individually to avoid injury due to fighting and for
better mating performance.
 Bedding materials such as sand, wood shavings, or rice straw may be used in
cases of leg problems.
Pregestating gilts or sows can be housed in two ways. They may be kept in
individual feeding-lying stalls that are made of G. I. pipes, wood, round bars, concrete
cement, and/or black iron pipes, or they may be housed in group pens.
Gestation unit – house recently bred and pregnant gilts and sows in
individual stalls to prevent injury, feed competition, and unnecessary stress that may
lead to failure in fertilization or abortion.
Farrowing unit – transfer pregnant animals to this unit one week before the
expected farrowing date. House the animals in elevated and slatted farrowing crates.
Usually, the sow is confined between two tubular gates. Galvanized steel
pipes and plastic flooring are commonly used for this purpose. Other materials such
as wood, bamboo, and round bars may also be used. Use slatted floors to maintain
 hygiene. The flooring can be constructed out of concrete cement, round bars, t-bars
or trapezium iron bars, or plastic matting.
Always provide the farrowing crate with a creep area equipped with sufficient
heat source. Light bulb, ultraviolet lamps, or LPG-fired convection lamps are common
sources of heat. Common types of flooring for the creep area are plastic-coated wire
mesh, plastic, and/or metal flooring materials.
Growing-finishing unit – adopt an “all-in-all-out” scheme per pen. Animals
can be housed in conventional pens with concrete floor and partition walls made of
either concrete round bars, or G.I pipes.
Space requirements of building and equipment for swine

Age and size of animal Pen Height of Feeder Partition

size/dimension door (m) space wall (m)
(m2) (cm)
Before farrowing
Gilts 2.00 1.0 35-45 1.20
Sows 2.70 1.0 45-50
1.20-1.50
After farrowing
Young sows
Solid flooring 4.12 1.0 34-45 1.20
Slatted flooring 3.00 1.0 45-50 1.20
Mature sows
Solid flooring 5.62 1.0 45-50 1.20
Slatted flooring 3.96 1.0 45-50
1.20-1.50
Herd sows 2.70 1.0 40-50
1.20-1.50
Boar pens with mating area 6.00 1.0 40-50
1.20-1.50
Weaning pen (per weaner)
Solid flooring 0.50 0.6 20 0.75
Slatted flooring 0.30-0.40 0.6 20 0.75

IV. Activity
Illustrate/Draw/Sketch the different housing units in a swine farm indicating
the recommended measurement.

V. Reflection
Research on the importance of housing and equipment to a swine farm as a
whole. Look for some testimonies in the YouTube and reflect on the importance. Do
not forget to include the link for my reference.

VI. Suggested Readings

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Farmer’s

Handbook on Pig Production (for the small holders at village level).
Hines, Elizabeth. Reproduction in Swine – Undestanding the Estrous Cycle for
Herd Management. Retrieved on March 10, 2021
 https://extension.psu.edu/reproduction-in-swine-understanding-the-estrous-
cycle-for-herd-management

VII. Resources and Additional Resources

The Pork Production Committee 2004. The Philippines recommends for pork
production. Los Baños, Laguna: PCARRD/DOCT-PFIZER, Inc., 2014. 131 p.
– (Philippine Recommends Series No. 13-E; Revised).