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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 48Lucknow area farmer researches benefits- of semi -confinement by Pat Livingston Despite the -30 degrees celsius weather in January, a West Wawanosh Township farmer, says the pigs he had housed in a semi - confinement facility did very well. Ben Hogervorst set up a research facility and demonstration site at his R.R. 1 Lucknow farm early last fall. His aim was to determine the sffectiveness and benefit of Econo- T5helters as an economical and productive means of finishing pigs. Going into the project, Hogervorst knew that the cost of the system ran at one-third that of a conventional style barn. The lower capital in- vestment manifests itself into lower mortgage payments. The concept of Econo-Shelters also allows the farmer to build at a slower. pace (i.e. groups of 100 pigs), thus avoiding one large debt load. Hogervorst erected 18 Econo- Shelters set up in two avenues, with a central alley for accessing the shelters. The site has a capacity for 960 market hogs. As Hogervorst had no prototype to work from the building process has been a learning experience. The shelters were built both on two foot walls and on skids. The skid -type allows for the building to be pulled back and cleaned out with a front-end loader. This experiment was used to determine which is best, both from production and labor intensity standpoints. Hogervorst says that customers appear to prefer the shelters on a raised wall, adding to the con- venience of cleaning. A 24 -inch piece of clear plastic was installed at the front of the -- raised shelters to allow the sun to shine in and keep the warmth in and the wind out. When questioned about sunburned pigs, Ben said, "Pigs are like people. Some know when to come in and some learn a little slower." He says the inside of the shelter will be cool in the summer heat because of a window in the back that allows the breeze to flow through. Early in the experiment, Roger- vorst said the positive side of a shelter employing an indoor -outdoor concept in the winter, was that "the pigs will basically eat and sleep, thus expending less energy horsing around." Hogervorst now says, "During the extreme cold, we observed that the pigs would eat and drink in groups of four to five, then they would go in and lay down and grow. Another group would rotate out. We would naturally think that in the extreme cold, pigs would use a lot more feed but it didn't happen. What we potentially might have lost, due to the fact of cold weather, we gained by the non -activity of the pigs." Feeders and waterers are split between two shelters. Ho*ervorst also monitored the production and growth rate effects of different water systems - heated vs energy - free water bowls, and nipple drinkers vs bowl drinkers. All feed was weighed for feed conversion and experiments took place on wet -dry feeders vs dry feeders. The watering system was set up on different lines to each bowl or nipple drinker, Zhis allowed for ease in deworming or adding medication to water for only those pigs that needed it. Large round bales were used for bedding and are rolled in through the front of the shelter. Hogervorst is developing a design for a new back on the shelters so that bales can be set in through the back. He says the pigs break down the bales in three to four days. Another advantage to the system is it provides a more specific bedroom/bathroom concept. Other areas being researched 'include stocking densities and per - •turn to page 33 Farm Progress '94 -Page 31 Ben Hogervorst, of R.R. 1, Lucknow, has erected 18 Econo-Shelters, In a two -avenue style, on his West Wawanosh Township farm. Hogervorst was very pleased with the performance of the pigs In the semi -confinement facility. 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