Bacteria for bedding in a pigsty

Deep litter for pigs creates comfort for animals. The piglet is always clean. In addition, the fermentation material generates heat, keeping the pigs warm in winter.

What is the feature of fermentation litter for pigs

A warm bedding for pigs works on the principle of a dry closet. Animals run on the floor covered with a thick layer of organic matter. It can be straw, sawdust or other material. Biobacteria that process waste products of pigs are included in the organic matter. The splitting process is accompanied by the release of large amounts of heat. Due to the work of bacteria inside the pigsty, free heating is provided.

In order for the bacteria for pigs to work and not die, it is important to provide favorable conditions:

• inside the pigsty equip stable ventilation;
• the formation of drafts is unacceptable;
• it is impossible to lower the temperature in the pigsty below 0 ^оWITH;
• the bedding layer should be periodically loosened with a pitchfork or rake.

The litter will work as long as it is replenished with waste products of pigs. They are the food for bacteria. The use of technology allows not to build a capital building for pigs. For a pigsty, you can even weld a metal frame, sheathe it with boards or cover it with an awning. However, a light construction option is suitable for the southern regions or when winter keeping of pigs is not expected.

As evidenced by the reviews of the litter with bacteria for pigs, for the best work of microorganisms, it is necessary to provide the correct diet to animals. The feed should be given half consisting of fiber, so that the waste products are fully fermentable.

Lay bedding material for pigs on a disinfected floor. The soil under the pigsty must have good drainage properties. Pigs cannot be laid on a concrete base. First, grates are placed on the floor to drain the slurry. The first layer of sawdust or straw is laid 20 cm thick. The preparation is evenly scattered on top. The organics are slightly ruffled, the pigs are released.

Non-replaceable litter is laid at a temperature of 5-10 ^оFrom above zero. Loosening is carried out periodically so that the bacteria receive oxygen. As the layer gets wet, dry organic matter and the preparation are added.

Bacteria will begin to work on the third day after application. If you maintain optimal conditions, the litter layer will last up to four years. In the absence of pigs for more than three weeks, the bacteria will die due to lack of nutrition. The thickness of the litter for pigs in a pigsty can reach from 50 to 100 cm.

Benefits of using bio-litter for pigs and piglets

According to reviews, bacteria for bedding in a pigsty have many advantages:

• by maintaining hygiene in the pigsty, the financial costs of cleaning are reduced;
• free space heating;
• there are no bad smells, dampness, dirt;
• the conditions for keeping pigs are closer to the natural environment;
• minimizes the formation of toxic ammonia fumes.

Biobacteria break down the waste products of pigs in 24 hours.

Price comparison for pigsty bacteria and maintenance

In villages, a small amount of manure from pigs is dumped in heaps, and after overheating it is sent to the garden. If you run a large farm, the problem with waste increases. They will have to be taken out. In addition, hired personnel will be needed to clean the pigsty, loading operations. The cost of services is high. If dry litter for pigs is used, there are no problems with waste disposal. The cost of buying a biological product is less, plus sanitation is maintained in the pigsty.

The price of biological products for bedding is formed taking into account a number of features:

• The number of microorganisms in 1 g of the substance. The activity of the drug depends on the indicator. The more bacteria, the more efficiently they work in the litter.
• Consistency. Preparations are produced in granules, powder, liquid. Some need water to start, while others are activated by contact with pig excrement.
• Consumption. The more active the drug, the less it needs to be applied. For example, “Biolatik” worth 1799 rubles is designed for 20 m².
• Packing. Medicines are sold in different quantities. Usually, the smaller the package, the higher the cost. It’s better to buy in bulk.

There are a large number of biological products in stores. Popular bacteria for piglets are: Animal Farm, Biolatik, Netto-Plast.

The video tells about the preparation for bedding “LIVEBACTERIA”:

Features of keeping piglets and pigs on non-replaceable litter

If a decision is made to buy biobacteria for a pigsty, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of raising animals. There are 3 forms of keeping pigs:

• pasture;
• non-walking;
• stall.

From spring to late autumn, it is desirable to give preference to the pasture form. Pigs are gathered into a herd. Each group is formed according to sex and age characteristics. Due to the free range, the need for bedding is eliminated.

With the onset of cold weather, they switch to a non-walking form of content. At this time, it is necessary to equip the litter for pigs, to create an optimal microclimate inside the pigsty. Be sure to take care of good ventilation. For better development of the skeleton and muscle mass of pigs, a mixed form of keeping is practiced. Until severe cold sets in, the pigs are released to pasture, and in the evening they are driven into a pigsty, where warm bedding awaits. Bacteria do not stop working as pigs replenish them with new excrement.

The stall form of keeping is practiced in private farms with a small number of livestock. Due to the limited size of the pigsty, animals cannot be separated by age and sex. Pigs are separated in stalls. The production of offspring is regulated so that farrowing falls closer to the beginning of the warm season.

With the advent of offspring, the bacteria for the pigsty must work at full strength. The litter provides cleanliness, dryness, warmth. Good sanitation requires less use of antibacterial agents. However, small piglets are not able to provide the necessary amount of waste for the vital activity of bacteria. In the stall with young animals, the fermentation litter is enriched with excrement taken from the adult pig population.

Service life of the fermentation bed

The manufacturer guarantees the life of bacteria from 1,5 to 4 years (depending on the drug), subject to proper use. According to reviews, deep litter for pigs often lasts one season. The short service life is associated with the peculiarity of keeping animals. For example, in the summer the herd lives on the street or all the piglets are allowed to be slaughtered, and new pigs are brought in in the fall. For three weeks, bacteria consume the remains of excrement. If there are no new arrivals, the microorganisms die. The bed becomes unusable.

Bacteria die if there is no ventilation, the temperature regime is violated, there is no drainage for liquid on the floor. It is easy to identify a broken bedding by its appearance. Organics ceases to absorb liquid, the unpleasant smell of ammonia quickly spreads throughout the room. Waste material can only be recycled. Bedding waste is cleaned out of the pigsty, stored in a pile or taken out.

Can it be used as a fertilizer

At the end of the service life, a large layer of waste litter remains. For its export, hired equipment, people are needed. You can reduce costs by arranging a compost heap. Completely recycled material in a year will become an excellent fertilizer for the site. Sometimes gardeners are afraid of the presence of bacteria, but they live as long as there is food. Even if you throw away the working bedding, microorganisms will live in the compost heap for a maximum of 3 weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages of keeping pigs on deep litter

The use of deep litter is due to undeniable advantages:

• due to improved living conditions, pigs get sick less, gain weight faster, meat quality improves;
• reduced labor costs and financial costs for the disposal of manure;
• the release of heat by the litter provides natural heating of the pigsty, there is no need to equip heating;
• due to the high temperature, rodents do not settle inside the litter;
• good compost is obtained from the waste material.

The disadvantage is that over time the litter will have to be changed, and a very large layer accumulates over several years. Another disadvantage is the high cost of good bacteria.

Conclusion

Deep litter for pigs creates comfort for the owners themselves. Bad smells of ammonia do not spread throughout the territory. A well-groomed mini-farm will not create discomfort for the neighbors.

Reviews