Swine Housing Research - Southeast Experiment Farm

The development of the Southeastern Experimental Farm has created the opportunity for studies in swine housing management. Initial steps taken to develop a program were the construction of three temporary structures, which were described in the 1963 Animal Science Mimeo Series. Results of the first summer study (A.S. Mimeo 63 -1) were reported. Daily gains and feed required per pound of gain were approximately the same among pigs on slotted floor, concrete floor with slotted dunging alley and concrete floor with bedding. More labor was required for the conventional concrete floor and sloping floor than was required for the completely slotted floor. In 1963 all were removed and the farm was repopulated with SPF (specific pathogen free) pigs. The uninsulated temporary house was moved to pasture for the two insulated houses were used for growing-finishing 1963-64 and the summer of 1964