22 November 2024
Is Your Farm Winter Ready?
As winter approaches, ensuring your pig farm is prepared is crucial to maintaining pig health, productivity, and staff safety. Ciarán Carroll gives a guide to help get your farm ready for the colder months.
Housing
Proper management of pig housing is critical, particularly during winter.
Ventilation
Regularly check and clean fans, inlets, and thermostats to ensure they work properly. Draughts can stress pigs, leading to health issues and vices like tail biting. Use smoke tests to locate draughts or insulation gaps, and repair them. Keep thermostats clean and positioned near pigs but not near enough to get damaged.
Temperature
Maintain appropriate room temperatures for different categories of pigs. Check that farrowing room heat pads and optimize stocking rates to reduce stress and/or chilling caused by overcrowding or understocking.
- Be careful when closing up buildings, as poor ventilation can increase ammonia levels, suppress feed intake, and reduce growth.
- After washing rooms, dry them thoroughly with a blast heater before reintroducing pigs; wet floors are equivalent to a room temperature reduction of 4°C.
Biosecurity
Strong biosecurity reduces cold-related health risks.
Water Supply
Water availability is critical in winter, with freezing temperatures posing risks.
Pipes
Where possible, bury water pipes at least 750mm underground or insulate exposed pipes to prevent freezing. Wet feed lines also need insulation and a scheduled night time circulation to avoid freezing.
Storage
Maintain alternative water storage for at least 24 hours’ supply, which can double as a power-washing source.
Pumps/Power Washers
Protect pumps and powerwashers. If possible, use thermostatically controlled heaters pump houses.
Safety Measures
Icy conditions increase the risk of accidents; proper preparation minimizes hazards.
Walkways
Clear and treat farmyard tracks and walkways with grit or salt. Ensure staff use designated paths. Also, treat access areas for feed and pig trucks.
Electrical Safety
Inspect and repair wiring. Use 30mA Residual Current Devices (RCDs) for additional heaters or lamps. Test RCDs regularly to ensure they work properly. Use Registered Electrical Contractors for electrical work.
Other Considerations
- Power Supply: Test generators monthly and keep them fuelled.
- AI Storage: Keep semen storage at 17°C in AI storage boxes (using max/min thermometers). Replace old delivery storage boxes if needed.
- Medicines: Store medicines as per manufacturer instructions, ensuring they aren’t exposed to freezing temperatures. Use an external fridge thermostat if needed.
- Rodent Control: Winter drives rodents indoors. Maintain and monitor baiting programs. Remove external hiding spots like rubble or vegetation.
- Staff Welfare: Provide warm, waterproof clothing and staff facilities. Inspect work boots for wear and ensure adequate lighting around the farm. Treat slippery paths to remove hazards such as moss or algae.
By addressing these areas, you can keep pigs healthy, maintain productivity, and protect staff safety throughout winter. Start preparations now to face the cold months with confidence!