What are the methods of raising pigs?

my country is the world's largest pig-raising country, with both the number of pigs raised and the number of pigs slaughtered accounting for about 50% of the world's total. Such a large number of pigs naturally determines the differences in breeding models in various places. So what are the methods of raising pigs now? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Closed captivity

Closed confinement is the most mainstream method of pig farming. The advantages of this method are good insulation, high utilization rate, and it is also conducive to the prevention and control of diseases and pig stress. However, in the process of closed confinement, attention should be paid to maintaining a suitable temperature in the pig house, controlling humidity, reasonably setting stocking density, providing high-quality feed and water, strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control measures, establishing complete environmental protection facilities, and doing a good job of safety management.

2. Traditional free-range farming

The typical traditional farm pig farming model allows pigs to eat freely, such as whole grains, green fodder , etc. They can move freely and release their nature, and they get a lot of exercise. They don't get vaccinated and rarely take medicine, and basically rely on their bodies to fight the disease. However, pigs grow slowly and it takes no less than 10 months for them to be marketed.

3. Cage method

Cage pig farming has many advantages, such as small space occupation, easy use, clean and hygienic, simple equipment in the cage, wide adaptability and so on. Generally, iron cages and wooden cages can be used as pig cages. Pig cages should be built to allow pigs to stand up and lie down freely in the cage. The specifications are: 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 120 cm high. The four corners of the cage can be supported with 3 mm angle irons or solid wood, and other parts can be supported with 10 mm steel bars or solid wooden strips. The distance between the four horizontal bars should be such that the pig's head cannot stick out.

4. Semi-closed stocking

This method involves keeping the animals in closed enclosures in the early stages, feeding them with feed, and also giving them vaccinations and medications; in the later stages, they are allowed to roam free for a period of time, supplementing their diet with some green feed. The vast majority of native pigs on the market belong to this model, and are mostly marketed at 7-9 months old.

5. Plastic greenhouse farming

Compared with the conventional pig farm structure model, the greenhouse pig farm has a simple structure, is clear at a glance, is convenient and easy to learn, has low technical requirements for construction workers, and has many advantages. It is usually required that greenhouse pig houses should be built on high and dry terrain with solid soil, strong water permeability, and not contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms. They should be far away from villages and livestock processing plants and at least 100 meters away from roads. In addition, there should be clean water sources around the pig houses, and water should be easily accessible, and they should be located downwind or on the windward side of the houses. In order to maintain good ventilation and sufficient light, the front-to-back distance between sheds should be more than 20 meters, the left-to-right distance should be more than 15 meters, and they should face north and south.



In general, there are many ways to raise pigs, and basically every place has different methods. For example, the difference between large-scale pig farming enterprises and free-range farmers is quite obvious. Of course, with the development of modern science and technology, new pig farming technologies will also emerge, which are also worthy of exploration and development in the future.