Pig farming is considered a fairly profitable industry that does not require special physical effort or material costs from a person. This is why many farmers decide to raise piglets. However, before you start raising animals, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of bunker feeders for pigs.
Basic requirements for pig feeders
Before choosing or making your own container for feeding piglets, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for them.All feeders used in the pig barn must be of the appropriate size. Dimensions directly depend on the number of animals. Each piglet needs about forty centimeters of free space. Therefore, for 2-3 pigs, a container with a length of at least a meter is selected.
In addition to suitable dimensions, feeders must meet the following requirements:
- ease of use;
- the presence of a protective coating against high humidity;
- large capacity;
- reinforced bottom;
- a slight slope so that food debris collects in one place.
Required dimensions
It is recommended to take a closer look at the optimal dimensions of feeders for piglets. If a food supply container is purchased for one pig, it should not be too large. It is enough to purchase a trough, the length of which will be 30-40 centimeters. This is enough to provide enough feed for one pig.
If a farmer raises several piglets, he will have to buy one common feeder. In this case, you need to take into account that each pig will need free space. So that the animals do not interfere with each other and feel comfortable, buy a trough 1.5-2 meters long and about 50-60 centimeters wide. For a large pen, several of these feeders are installed.
Types and drawings of feeders for pigs
Before choosing containers with which piglets will eat, you need to familiarize yourself with their varieties.
Trough
Most often, farmers install feeders in pigsties in the form of troughs made of boards or iron. Experienced pig breeders do not recommend using wooden structures, as they quickly rot and deteriorate when exposed to moisture.Instead, it is better to install steel products that are protected from corrosion. If used correctly, they will last 15-20 years. Wood products deteriorate within 3-5 years.
Troughs are considered universal products that are suitable for fattening small and adult animals. During installation, they are securely attached to the floor surface so that animals cannot throw them over.
Hopper feeder
To feed dry food to pigs, bunker products are often used, which can be purchased in special stores or made by yourself. The containers, which are equipped with a built-in hopper tank, are filled with feed in advance. It then gradually flows into the animal troughs. In this case, a person will not need to constantly add food, since it will come from the bunker.
One bunker is enough to feed four adult piglets. Therefore, experts advise using them for people who keep more than two piglets.
Automatic
For people who do not want to constantly add food to their pigs, a special automatic feeder is suitable. It is made in such a way that the feed is poured into the troughs of the animals on its own. This is a type of hopper feeder that also has a large capacity for dry pig feed. When there is no food left inside the troughs, it will begin to feed itself from the bunker. Therefore, the farmer will not have to come to the pigsty several times a day to add food to the animals.
The only drawback of this design is its high cost and complexity of installation.
Longitudinal
This variety looks like an ordinary trough. However, these designs have certain features that distinguish them from each other.Longitudinal feeders are much longer and therefore can be used to feed many adult pigs. Products of this type can be equipped with a hopper, which is installed at the edges. Experienced farmers recommend purchasing such products if piglets are fed liquid feed. They are not suitable for serving dry food.
Circular
These containers for dispensing pig feed consist of a round container that has low sides. The main feature of these structures is that from the inside they are divided into several sections. There is a special ring in the center, with the help of which the feed is distributed among the sections. It is recommended to install circular feeders in such a way that the animals reach the center. This will help them eat the food left there.
Installing feeders in the barn
Containers for serving food are placed in front of the entrance to the pen with piglets. You can also place them in the center of the barn so that each piglet can easily approach them. The structure is securely fixed so that it cannot be thrown over. To do this, it is screwed to the floor surface or to the wall. Strong metal bolts are used for fastening. The wooden trough can be secured with nails.
Conclusion
People planning to raise pigs should understand the feeders for them. It is better to familiarize yourself in advance with the types of such containers, as well as their main distinctive features.
