Developments in modern intensive and conventional pig housing.

Investment in the facilities for pig production is subject to the same criteria used for any other business. Until the early 1980s pig farmers were free to choose whatever housing system they considered would give them the best economic return. Now, however, other considerations have to be taken into account, particularly the welfare of the animal and the exclusion of antibiotics in the finishing feed. In terms of welfare, the tethering and stalling of sows has resulted in the development of electronically controlled systems for feeding dry sows. In the fattening herd the pressure for economic performance, where the nett margin per pig sold in real terms has not altered in 15 years, means that systems such as flatdecks and totally slatted houses which give the most consistent food conversion efficiency (FCE) and growth rate are favoured. Slatted fattening systems are the easiest to adapt to weekly modules of production which limits disease spread between batches and reduces the requirement for medication.