Author Topic: Floors in pig ark?  (Read 14557 times)

HappyHippy

  • Guest
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #15 on: July 09, 2012, 12:38:30 pm »
We like the floors too  :thumbsup:
Granted if I was in a milder, drier climate I probably wouldn't need them as much  ::) but until I win the lottery and emmigrate to Barbados or somewhere I'm sticking with mine  ;)
We do move them regularly though and wash down everything at the same time  :thumbsup:

rispainfarm

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • longniddry
    • The Porky Quines
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #16 on: July 09, 2012, 01:24:59 pm »
As a manufacturer of arks, we always recommend a floor, although we sell both and have used both. In devon we did not have floors, the ground inside the ark would be dry whilst the ground outside would be mud. In Scotland we had to use floors and we used removable floors, the top would be taken off and the whole thing pressure washed and disinfected.

In answer to SFS reasons for not having a floor, I I disagree. First floors should not harbour bacteria if proper cleaning methods are carried out. For that reason removable floors are better, they can be detached and cleaned thoroughly.

We have farrowed many sows in farrowing arks and never lost a piglet due to been squashed, a hard floor makes no difference, in that case why would some breeders farrowing in farrowing sheds where the floor is concrete.

Yes vermin can live under arks, but it is up to the pig owner to keep on top of it and move the ark regularly to prevent rats etc settling. If there is a problem then it should be sorted asap by whatever method suits.

Arks with floor are definately not colder than arks without floors. In any case an ark without a floor will not seal against water seeping into the ark.

Bedding should always be used in an ark especially when farrowing and floor or no floor, enough bedding should be used to keep the animals warm. Even with a floor we pile in the straw.

In winter straw should be piled around the doorway outside to allow the pigs to wipe their feet before they enter the ark. You will see many commercial farms do this for this reason, to keep the inside of the ark dry and not wet.

Hope this helps
Author of Choosing and Keeping Pigs and Pigs for the Freezer, A Smallholders Guide

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oaklandspigs

  • Joined Nov 2009
  • East Sussex
    • OaklandsPigs
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #17 on: July 09, 2012, 01:25:34 pm »
Interesting debate, and suspect there is no right answer in all cases.
 
SfS mentions that commercial arks don't have floors, but most outdoor commercial setups will be on sandy soil, not the clay that we have.
 
Commercial setups will also move arks more frequently using front-loading tractors, and not want the bother of internal cleaning. Small setups may not have the moving equipment and can take the time to clean floors, not an expense a commercial set up can afford.
 
Commercial setups tend to be high density and quantity, so potential disease is more of a problem - our two commercial arks are made from steel frames and ends with twin coverings of curved sheeting, allowing good cleaning and disinfection. The majority of smallholders have low stocking densities, and wood ends on the arks, so a wood floor does not really make a deal of difference in adding risk where wood is already present and stocking density is low.
 
All our arks have floors, and we have never had a vermin problem.
 
SfS is correct that some ark manufacturers use plywood for flooring and this can cause slips and strains when wet, so we don't use ply, but if you have ply it needs to be well strawed to prevent this.
 
Didn't really understand the draft argument, so can't comment of that other than I see no reason why a floored ark should be draftier than one that sits on uneven soil - if you add straw both would surely be the same?
 
I also don't see why having a floor means you can't provide straw for a farrowing sow to nest with - we farrow on concrete in sheds and have no problems in the sows nesting - one is doing it right now.
 
Nor do I agree that a solid floor increases crushing over straw one - doesn't matter whether you are lying on the bedroom floor or on a silent night mattress, you'll still be crushed or suffocated if something several hundred times your size and weight sits on you.
 
Many of our arks have Pallet floors - these are made from taking the planks from one pallet and nailing them over the gaps in another creating what is called castle boarding sort of viewed edge on _-_-_-_. These are loose fitted in - ie you just put 4 to 6  or so (dependant on ark size) in the middle, rather like having a large rug in a room  rather than fitted carpets. The pigs don't mind the castle boarding at all, and with a little bit of straw it disappears anyway. This lifts the pigs out of the mud, and off cold ground, whilst letting you easily clean by lifting the ark away, either with our  tractor for the heavier ones or with the carbery arks we have some of you just flip the ark away.
 
Whilst SfS points out some valid reasons for not having floors - time, possible bacteria, possible vermin, and these should be considered, their are positive factors such as rasing the pigs up from wet ground and in winter raising pigs up from frozen ground that make it worth considering.
 
However as I said at the beginning, there are no universal right answers and everyone should consider all the arguments.  For us floors are needed, and have no proved an issue.
 
 
« Last Edit: July 09, 2012, 01:28:10 pm by oaklandspigs »
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SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #18 on: July 09, 2012, 02:07:22 pm »
Good post, oaklands  :thumbsup:  You haven't really left me much to say - I had been going to say the same as you about the commercial folks keeping their pigs on ground suitable for pigs without having to put floors in their arks, whereas we hobby and small pig keepers can't always have the best ground for them.

If I didn't have a floor to my ark, the pigs would indeed have an indoor swimming pool at times - hence the comment I made further back about whether the water all comes from the sky or whether some of it comes up from waterlogged ground.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #19 on: July 09, 2012, 03:46:24 pm »
What an interesting debate....

All I pointed out was the commercial side of things, where like it or not welfare is more closely monitored than on any smallholding.

If people feel that their pigs would be happier in an ark with a floor then go for it.

By the way, the reasons for no-floor were not mine, they were reproduced from our site where they were taken (with permission) from our supplier, who is probably the UK's largest manufacturer of commercial farrowing huts / weaner houses / dry sow arks etc and whos housing is used in the larger UK and overseas pig units.
www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk - Safe Secure shopping for all your livestock equipment and supplies.
Also www.suppliesforfarmers.co.uk for more larger farm related items

Sylvia

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #20 on: July 10, 2012, 07:15:26 pm »
But how do you stop the mud and rain oozing under the walls and turning into a quagmire like outside?   Or does the straw around the edges block it off?    Tamsaddle

Tamsaddle, I find the stable mats are a bit big for my arks and turn up a bit at the sides. I went into one today to test it and found it lovely and dry.

mwncigirl

  • Joined Sep 2011
Re: Floors in pig ark?
« Reply #21 on: July 10, 2012, 11:11:14 pm »
Well I had no idea what a comprehensive and full debate I was starting!! I guess, as with most things it is 'what suits' re: land, local climate etc. Thanks everyone for your contribution.
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