Colder weather could be a blessing for pig farmers with naturally-ventilated straw-based finishing houses. On some farms there has been an endless round of mucking out dirty bedding because the pigs’ dunging habits have been reversed.

IT systems for pig production management from farmex – turning data into information into knowledge into profit! 

Tim Miller, environmental specialist with Staffordshire-based ARM Buildings, says load-cells have been installed under feed bins on a number of units.

Producers are being advised to raise the set temperature on pig building control systems on hot days to reduce temperature fluctuations, especially in finishing sheds.

Following the increased interest by pig farmers in information communication technology and real-time monitoring on pig farms, Farmex is rebranding all its data services under the Barn Report Pro banner. It will be dropping the Guardian Action name currently used for some of its services.

Mark Hodgkinson has been appointed contracts manager for Staffordshire-based ARM Buildings. Previously senior site foreman, and with over 30 years’ experience, he is amply qualified for this position and is already well-known among many pig farmers.

We at ARM Buildings offer a 'MOT' service for buildings to help pig farmers run their controlled-environment houses more efficiently.

Now’s the time for pig producers to check that their ventilation systems are working properly, before the really cold weather sets in, says a professional environmentalist.

“Big boys’ flat-packs” are proving popular with pig farmers. ARM Buildings reports that providing piggeries in kit form for producers to assemble themselves is proving increasingly popular.

With the warmer weather here, if they haven’t already done so farmers should service their piggery ventilation systems.