B and B pig operators

Anyone here doing it?

Would you please be kind enough to show us a photo or two or your setup and mention what number you house, what stage you get them and send them and also how much labour is involved?

This is being discussed in another thread [https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/livestock-back-onto-arable-land.309466/] and I am wondering how someone might enter the game on say an all-arable enteprise, by building a new shed as simply as possible and maybe deep housing them on home grown straw. All ideas greatly recieved. Conversely, if it is utter madness then please can you elaborate on why it can't be done.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:

bitwrx

Member
Anyone here doing it?

Would you please be kind enough to show us a photo or two or your setup and mention what number you house, what stage you get them and send them and also how much labour is involved?

This is being discussed in another thread [https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/livestock-back-onto-arable-land.309466/] and I am wondering how someone might enter the game on say an all-arable enteprise, by building a new shed as simply as possible and maybe deep housing them on their own straw. All ideas greatly recieved. Conversely, if it is utter madness then please can you elaborate on why it can't be done.

Thanks in advance.
We run ours for 13 weeks post-weaning on deep straw. They are moved between sheds at 6 weeks post-weaning. This is a legacy of our farm layout (ex dairy farm, with pre existing portal frame buildings). Group size is approx 180 to 200.

If I were to put up a shed specifically for pigs, I wouldn't have them on deep straw.

Straw use is pretty astronomical (especially as they get bigger), and it's difficult to keep the clean bit large enough for them all to lie on. If they're not warm, they won't be growing (as fast as they could be).

Mucking out would be required at some point over a finishing cycle. That is difficult to manage logistically, and doesn't really add value (I get told off for referring to it as 'dead time').

Hardcore floor is a non-starter. Pigs will have it churned up by second breakfast.

I don't have any figures on the effect on feed conversion, but it probably more than makes up for the cost of a proper shed (slatted or straw based).

Proper sheds also have smaller pens. Smaller groups are easier to manage (different rations for poor dopers, or treatment pens). It's a right pita to get a poorly pig out of a big group, let alone select the biggest n for slaughter. Small groups are a good thing day-to-day.

On the other hand, big yards really are cheap to implement, especially if the shed was built some time ago and is fully paid down and otherwise redundant. I did half our yard conversions one summer when I was off uni. Me, a mini digger and some ready-mix.

In conclusion, it can be done, but isn't ideal.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Happy to chat about it - if you wish

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rob h

Member
Location
east yorkshire
When the batch is gone, how do they clean out the lying area?
Once the straw is gone, do they get a pressure wash gang in, or is it a case of DIY?
What's the vacant time between batches like?
He has another shed with scrape passages and a foldyard. All cleaned out wit a avant loader Don’t pressure wash after every batch but when he dose he has a pressure washer on a kobota .dose it himself with a bit of help.vacant time is about 3days
 

Piggy_jags

Member
Location
Suffolk
Anyone here doing it?

Would you please be kind enough to show us a photo or two or your setup and mention what number you house, what stage you get them and send them and also how much labour is involved?

This is being discussed in another thread [https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/livestock-back-onto-arable-land.309466/] and I am wondering how someone might enter the game on say an all-arable enteprise, by building a new shed as simply as possible and maybe deep housing them on home grown straw. All ideas greatly recieved. Conversely, if it is utter madness then please can you elaborate on why it can't be done.

Thanks in advance.
Hi
Go to
www.bqptulip.co.uk

fill in the contact details include your postal details.
I will send you out an info pack including potential earning.
if you include your phone number I will call you and talk it through.
roughly 12-13%ROI. Backed by HSBC
I will also send you the details of your nearest farmer to go and talk to
Hope this helps
Regards Mark
We run ours for 13 weeks post-weaning on deep straw. They are moved between sheds at 6 weeks post-weaning. This is a legacy of our farm layout (ex dairy farm, with pre existing portal frame buildings). Group size is approx 180 to 200.

If I were to put up a shed specifically for pigs, I wouldn't have them on deep straw.

Straw use is pretty astronomical (especially as they get bigger), and it's difficult to keep the clean bit large enough for them all to lie on. If they're not warm, they won't be growing (as fast as they could be).

Mucking out would be required at some point over a finishing cycle. That is difficult to manage logistically, and doesn't really add value (I get told off for referring to it as 'dead time').

Hardcore floor is a non-starter. Pigs will have it churned up by second breakfast.

I don't have any figures on the effect on feed conversion, but it probably more than makes up for the cost of a proper shed (slatted or straw based).

Proper sheds also have smaller pens. Smaller groups are easier to manage (different rations for poor dopers, or treatment pens). It's a right pita to get a poorly pig out of a big group, let alone select the biggest n for slaughter. Small groups are a good thing day-to-day.

On the other hand, big yards really are cheap to implement, especially if the shed was built some time ago and is fully paid down and otherwise redundant. I did half our yard conversions one summer when I was off uni. Me, a mini digger and some ready-mix.

In conclusion, it can be done, but isn't ideal.
totally agree with all you say. BQP finds each pig in a yard or old accommodation generally costs up to £9 more to produce.
hence why we don’t do much of it. Fine at the mo anyone can make money in pigs harder when China get ASF under control.
 
Hi
Go to
www.bqptulip.co.uk

fill in the contact details include your postal details.
I will send you out an info pack including potential earning.
if you include your phone number I will call you and talk it through.
roughly 12-13%ROI. Backed by HSBC
I will also send you the details of your nearest farmer to go and talk to
Hope this helps
Regards Mark

totally agree with all you say. BQP finds each pig in a yard or old accommodation generally costs up to £9 more to produce.
hence why we don’t do much of it. Fine at the mo anyone can make money in pigs harder when China get ASF under control.

That is a very kind offer but I am in no position to start my own pig enterprise I am afraid. I was asking merely out of interest as the reintroduction of livestock to arable farms was being discussed on another thread on TFF.

Thank you once again.


Ollie
 

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