Managing a pig breeding farm is not a child’s play. This project requires plenty of time and effort. For example, you must take care of the animals on a daily basis. One essential aspect of taking care of these animals is to ensure they are protected. For this purpose, most people use farrowing crates. If you have started this project for the first time and you have no idea how to purchase farrowing crates, you are on the right article. In this article, we are going to share with you a couple of tips to help you make this choice. Read on to find out more.
1. Consider the Environment
First of all, you may want to consider the environment to find out if it is suitable for pig breeding. Make sure that the environment is neither too hot nor too cold or you may have to suffer a lot of loss. Baby pigs cannot survive in harsh environments.
2. Look for Strong Units
Since you are going to use crates to protect your animals, make sure that they are strong enough to keep them in. Similarly, you must know about your state rules and regulations so that you don’t get in trouble.
3. Count your Pigs
If you are just getting started, you may not have a lot of animals on your pig farm. Therefore, you can manage your animals using a small unit. Similarly, you should estimate how many of the female pigs will deliver babies. This approach will help you decide on the best size to cover your needs.
4. Consider the Hygiene Aspect
Since you will need to clean your form on a daily basis, make sure that the crates are not difficult to maintain. This should not make it difficult for you to access different areas of your pig breeding farm. This aspect is important if you want to ensure that your animals will stay away from diseases.
5. Go for the Best Type
The good news is that you can choose from different types of farrowing crates. For instance, there are farrowing cages and gestation boxes. Don’t forget to set your budget before putting your hard-earned money into a crate.
If you are just starting out, there is no need to invest in a large, high-end crate. After all, you don’t want to spend all your money on this purchase.
6. Consider the Mounting System
Make sure that the farrowing crate can be fixed in the ground using a strong mounting system. If the mounting system is not working properly, the unit may not be able to protect your animals. As a matter of fact, the adult pigs may end up stepping on the babies due to weak crates. Therefore, we suggest that you consider the quality of the ground fixing system.
