Understanding the features of a standard pig housing structures in Kenya is one of the key factors that can contribute to your success as a pig farmer. Pig housing structures are the foundation of your farming business and should not be underestimated at any cost.
Pig housing structures in Kenya have been specified upon the construction to help an average pig farmer apply the standard rule for effective results. Properly spaced pigs in well-ventilated houses enjoy good health, resulting in minimal expenses to the farmer. Quality structures enhance animal productivity.
Pig farming in Kenya can be done from several points according to the farmer’s choice. Pig house construction in Kenya in Kenya can be done using different building materials. However, the most preferred material by most farmers is concrete.
Features Of Standard Pig Housing Structures
a. Strongly Structured Houses
The piggeries are to be constructed from strong materials such as concrete, wooden poles, bricks, and Stones slates.
b. Specious
The pig houses should not be small in size during construction. The farmer should construct the houses with future consideration of expansion due to increased animal count from farrowing.
Overcrowding of the pigs may expose them to contracting and spreading infectious diseases. Creasing enough space for the pigs is a good way of controlling disease infection. Enough space also helps the pigs have enough exercise
c. Good Ventilation
The pig houses must have a ventilator to allow the circulation of fresh air for the pigs. Good ventilation helps the pigs maintain a good health record. It is one of the easiest ways to control infectious diseases from spreading from one pig to the other.
d. Temperature Friendly
The roofing materials needed to shelter the pigs are supposed to be heat-proof to prevent the pigs from getting sunburns. The pigs should protect from extremely cold temperatures to prevent pigs from stressing.
The materials should also be rainproof to protect the pigs from extreme noise. The farmers can consider the use of insulation materials like sawdust, straw among others.
e. Safety
The houses should be constructed away from the ground. The houses can be raised by strong supporting pillars from the ground. The raising secures the animals from being affected by floods, pests, rodents, and other predators. The pigs are also prevented from interacting with the muddy ground where they can easily pick infectious diseases.
f. Distance From Each Pen
Farmers in medium and scale farming tend to have several Pig housing structures. Farmers in pig farming raising different ages for pigs are advised to raise same-aged pigs together and separate them from other ages. Distancing the piggeries helps the farmer with disease control from one pen to the other.
Sectioning Of Pig Housing Structures
Pig Farming structures in Kenya are considered to be located away from residential places especially pigs reared for commercial purposes. All the farmers putting up pig housing structures are advised to check on the wind direction.
The idea is to avoid wind from flowing in the direction of residential houses. Farmers are also advised to separate pigs from other animals. Every incoming vehicle should go through the disinfection dip normally located at the entrance to help in disease control.
Farmers can consider sectioning the main piggery to serve the purpose of the stages of the pigs. Some of the sections can be;
- Breeding houses where only the boar and the sow can be kept.
- Heating and a cooling room
- Piglet house with piglet nest
- Housing for dry sows
- Bathing area
- Farrowing house with a farrowing pan
- Feeding house fixed with feeders and drinkers
- Rest area / exercise area
Pig Farming Housing Plan
The piggeries should be surrounded by a strong perimeter wall made from concrete or bricks to ensure longevity. The purpose of the perimeter wall is to enhance the security of the pigs from predators. All the doors fixed other than every entry and exit of the piggeries should be tightly locked to enhance safety.
Pig housing structures in Kenya are made considering the purpose they should serve according to the present pig’s growth phase. Other than preparing the different growth phase structures, each animal should be subjected to free space for easy movement and adequate exercise as depicted in the below.
Types Of Pig House Designs In Kenya
Depending with age of the pigs, pig house designs vary as follows.
1. Service House
- Suitable for boars and dry sows staying separately.
- Each boar should be occupying up to 10 square meters
- Every sow is to enjoy not less than 5 square meters
2. Gestation House
- 3 weeks old pregnant sows are separated from the rest reared in a different pen.
- The spacing should be 5m by 1m.
- One gestation house should not hold more than 10 sows
3. Furrowing House
- Sow that are due birth have their own special birthing place
- Each sow is to occupy a space of 2m by 2.5m
- Thee farrowing house should have a space of one meter to the south to allow the passage of dung
- The pen should have a farrowing crate that prevents it from feeding on the piglets.
- The piglets are allowed a creeping area of provides space for the piglet to suckle
4. Weaner House
- One pen can accommodate up to 12 piglets
- Each piglet should not occupy less than 0.8m.
- 8 weeks old piglets are separated from their mother completely until they are 15 weeks old, ready for the market.
- At 15 weeks the piglets are supposed to weigh not less than 20 kg.
5. Gowers’s Pen
- Pigs in the pen should be 16 weeks old.
- The pigs should weigh from 40 kg and above
6. Finishing House
- Each pig is to occupy an area of about 1 square meter
- porkers of 21 weeks old are to weigh not less than 60 kg
- Pigs kept for beacon, at 27 weeks should weigh not less than 90kg
- Heavy hog pigs of 33 weeks should not weigh less than 120 kg
7. Resting Area
- The area can be free to allow pigs space for roaming and sun basking after bath if possible.
