Agricultural engineers, animal scientists, and agricultural economists from Iowa State University, University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Missouri put this new publication together. It gives swine producers the latest information on this alternative form of swine housing. The 16-page booklet provides an objective review of the advantages and disadvantages of using a hoop structure for swine housing. Specialists in swine production say producers who are investigating the probability of putting up a hoop structure for housing gestation sows will find a number of different layout options.
Layouts vary depending on the type of feeding system used.
Feeding stalls are the most expensive of the feeding system options, but they provide the producer the best option in individual sow management. AED-44 presents a detailed discussion on feeding systems and shows various layouts. Financial information is presented to compare the costs of different hoop structure layouts. The publication also summarizes information about hoop structure design and use. It shows some of the differences in management techniques in handling grouped sows that hoop structures require, and it describes the bedding and manure handling requirements for hoop structures.