Virtual Niche Farm Tours

Compiled by Dave Stender

ISU Swine Field Specialist

Eight Farms Visited

• Gathered 5 giga-bites of audio and visual information

• Trying to learn about new ideas – trade management secrets

Innovation - records

Pasture Farrow in Summer

New Lactation Feeding System

More Effort in Feeder Adjustment in Response to High Feed Prices

Modified Outdoor Farrowing

Portable Corral

Portable Corral

Portable Corral

John

Door in a Door

Group Lactation

Wheels for the Hut

Innovative Shed Scraper

Big Bale Pusher

Welcome to The Martin Kramer Farm

Inside the Farrowing Hoop Barn

Handy Access

Sow Huts

Pig creep area

The Hut

Good Environment to

Farrow Pigs

Thermostats

Hot Water Heat

Summer Cooling

Box fan installed in the back of the hut.

Free Stall Pens

Directed Air Flow Important to Summer Farrowing Success

Pig Finishing

Shed within the Barn

Finishing Space Within the Finishing Barn

ISU Allee Demonstration Farm Lyle Rossiter, Allee Farm Manager

Spring Farrowing Group Lactation

Fall Farrowing

Hoop Pigs

Developing a System

Summer Hoop Farrowing

December Hoop Nursery • Cover Sleeping Area

• Draft free

• Cover material

• Deep bedding

• December and January mild temperatures

Farrowing Barn

Lean-to building 30’ by 80’

Radiant Tube Heater

150,000 Btu/hr, 62’ long

$2306

Heat Lamps – 250 W

Allee Farrowing Barn

• Radiant Tube Exhaust

• Exhaust Fan 16”

• Double doors to move huts with skidloader

• Farrowing/Nursery

Farrowing Systems During Cold Weather

To Water and Feed

3’ Creep Area

6’ by 7’ Huts with open back

Tube Radiant Heater

8

Farrowing Systems During Cold Weather

Radiant

Tube

Heater

Two

Rows of

Huts,

Back to

Back

Creep

Area

Between

Huts

ISU Allee Farm

Farrowing Behavior

Piglet Comfort Zones

Gestation Gilts Fed in Individual Stalls

Thank-you