Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Low-input sustainable sow housing for Iowa

Project ID: 1993-03

Abstract

This project developed a low-cost, innovative sow housing and feeding system that is currently under consideration for a patent. A quasi ad libitum (free feeding of a controlled diet) electronic feeding system for gestating sows was housed in a 9.1 X 18.3 meter steel-hooped structure covered with an aluminized plastic tarp. A feeder served as a partition between high-energy and low-energy diet feeding areas. After weighing, hogs were directed to the appropriate diet by means of a tag number read by a computer. Such farm size-neutral housing can help producers raise lean market pigs. Other advantages include improved sow welfare, better worker environment, and less odor than confinement.

Lead investigator: Mark S. Honeyman, ISU Research Farms, et al

Year of grant completion: 1996

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Initiative.

Topics: Hoops and alternative livestock systems