Stocking Rates

Finishing Part or fully slatted houses

 

EU Legislation 91/630

Swine Care Manual  (NPB)

Average Weight of pig

kg

Minimum Space requirement m2

Weight of pig

lbs

Suggested floor space sq feet

≤ 10 kg

0.15

12-30

1.7-2.5

≤ 20 kg

0.20

30-60

3-4

≤ 30 kg

0.30

60-100

5

≤ 50 kg

0.40

100-150

6

≤ 85 kg

0.55

150-Market

8

≤ 110 kg

0.65

 

 

> 110  kg

1.00

 

 

1 kg  = 2.2 lbs

1 m2 = 10.76sq feet

1lb = 0.454 kg

1 sq foot  = 0.0929m2

 

Canadian advice on space requirements       Australian space requirements calculated as 0.03*(bodyweight)0.67

Visit biological requirements for growing pigs

 

Straw finishing systems recommendations are one 95 kg liveweight to each 1.4 m2 (15 sq foot)

(straw usage about 3 kg/head/week)

A 100 kg pig requires 0.93 m2 (10 sq feet ) to ensure that it does not touch another pig –

a requirement when it is too hot

Finishing pens should not be narrower than 2.5 m width

Ensure pens are not too long and narrow or increases in lameness will occur

More than 60 pigs in a big pen is required to create a tolerant social structure

 

Area occupied by the pig (m2) = kW0.67 with k ideally = 0.05

For every 0.1m2 reduction of ideal space results in a 5% reduction in feed intake

 

Boars

Individual living accommodation for an adult boar should have a floor area

of not less than 7.5 m2 (81 sq ft) EU 6m2 (64.4 sq ft)

Pens used for living and service should not be less than 10 m2 (108 sq ft)

with the shortest side not less than 2.4 m (8 ft).

Boar pen divisions should not be less than 1.5 m (4ft 11 in) high

Boar stalls – 0.7 x 2.4 m

 

Sows and Gilts

 

Total unobstructed floor area after breeding for each gilt to be at least 1.64 m2

Total unobstructed floor for each sow and gilt  in groups to be 2.25 m2

If gilts or sows are kept in a group of less than 6 space needs to be increased by 10%

If gilts or sows are kept in groups of more than 40 then the space may be decreased by 10%

Total slatted areas are banned with at least 0.95 m2 for gilts and 1.3 m2 for sows to be solid with no more than 15% of the solid area reserved for drainage openings. – Jan 2003

To maximise heat detection a floor space of 2.8 m2 (30 sq ft) is recommended

Internal area of a stall or pen not less than the square of the length of the pig (sow 2m long) – 4 m2

The internal sides of the pen should measure a minimum of 2.8m in length unless the group is less than 6 individuals when the minimum length will be 2.4m

However, the free access stall, feeding trough or other intrusions must not be included

 

If free access stalls back onto a solid wall: space between back of stall and wall at least length of pig

Free access stalls and back to back with central pen minimum distance between of 3 x length of pig from front of stalls with a 1.5 gap between the ends of the stall

Canadian advice on sow stalls

 
Farrowing Crates

The escape area around a farrowing crate should be 300 mm wide (12 in)

Heat mat minimum 0.6m2 (4ftx1.5ft)     Farrowing arc should have a floor area of 4.5 m2

Farrowing crate and creep area – 0.5 x 2.02m (AU) – flow area 3.2 m2

Farrowing pen – shortest side a pen should be 1.8m length, total area of the pen no less than 5.6m2 per sow

 

Outdoor Production

15-25 sows per hectare (6 to 10 per acre) 20-25 (AU)

9-14 sows/ha farrowing (AU)

33 Service area, 27 Dry sow, 19 Farrowing per hectare

 

Transport Movement of pigs

235 kg/m2 for transport.  This is the EU 95/29 limit for 100 kg pig requirements

281 kg/m2 is the MLC guideline.  A slope of < 20º suggested for loading ramp