Project Overview
FNC97-172
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 1997: $5,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1997
Region: North Central
State: Michigan
Project Coordinator:
Commodities
- Animals: swine
Practices
- Animal Production: housing, animal protection and health, manure management, watering systems
- Soil Management: composting
Summary:
Initial cost, heating, ventilation and manure disposal in confinement systems make hoop structures an attractive alternative for swine production, especially for young farmers with less capital.
Objectives: To utilize a hoop structure with deep bedding to show young farmers a low-investment, socially acceptable way to compete in the swine industry. The coordinator will erect a 40- by 75-foot hoop sturcture to finish 180 feeder pigs at a time with 2.8 turnovers per year and compare results with a conventional confinement system.
Results: The project was delayed by a construction bottleneck and was extended for one year to gather data.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.