Q .630 
 Un3mi 
 no. 1218 
 cop. 6 
 

UNIVERSITY Or 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 
 
 https://archive.org/details/finishingfloorf1218unit_0 
 
FINISHING FLOOR 
 for 400 pigs 
 
 Plan No. 6104 
 
 (3-SHEETS) 
 
 The most profitable use of farm labor in raising swine 
 is in the farrowing house and with sow herds. This finish¬ 
 ing floor for 400 pigs will free labor for these tasks. The 
 plans were designed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 
 Blacksburg, Va., as a 400-head unit for use in conjunc¬ 
 tion with a farrowing-house operation on a 2-month 
 farrowing schedule. 
 
 Pigs are brought to the finishing floor directly from 
 the farrowing house. The pens are divided into two sec¬ 
 tions, one for younger pigs and one for finishing pigs 
 from 110 pounds to 1 50 pounds. Approximately 40 pigs 
 are placed in each pen. At 110 to 1 20 pounds, the pigs 
 are split into two groups, and 20 pigs are placed in each 
 finishing pen. 
 
 The building is of masonry-and-post-type construction 
 and can be expanded in multiples of 10 feet. General 
 features of construction are shown on the working draw¬ 
 ings. Details are left to the discretion of the builder. 
 
 The use of commercially fabricated roof trusses, which 
 are available in many areas, is suggested. The trusses 
 must adequately support the roof structure, the ceiling, 
 and the wind and snow loads that may be expected in 
 the area where the building is erected. The metal roof¬ 
 ing, over purlins spaced 24 inches on center, must be 
 rigid enough to carry these loads. 
 
 Because some structural modification may be required 
 in localities subject to heavy snows or high winds, con¬ 
 sult your county extension agricultural agent or State 
 
 Washington, D C. lssoed December 1971 
 
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Miscellaneous Publication No. 1218 
 
 ,1 « ' * 
 
 For sole by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D C. 20402 Price 5 cents 
 
 Stock number 0100-1544 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 AGRICULTURE 'LIBRARY 
 
extension agricultural engineer for advice before start¬ 
 ing construction. 
 
 The house features totally slotted floors and fan ven¬ 
 tilation. Insulation is provided in the ceiling and panels. 
 This house should be used with automatic feeders and 
 the pits connected to a lagoon. 
 
 The ventilation system is unique, in that air is pulled 
 from the attic year round. Calculations show that it is 
 possible to get a 2° to 3° F. temperature rise in summer 
 because of the heat load from the roof. However, this 
 ventilation system was still desirable, because of its 
 automatic operation. The insulated panels could be 
 raised during summer, and adequate circulation would 
 still be achieved. 
 
 Automatic sprinklers are recommended with this sys¬ 
 tem to provide some evaporative cooling. To prevent 
 recirculation, it is recommended that the two fans not 
 being used for cold-weather operation be closed by 
 pushing the baffle against the ceiling. 
 
 A finishing floor built to the specifications of this plan 
 has been constructed in eastern Virginia and has been 
 in operation for approximately 8 months. Excellent re¬ 
 sults have been obtained in growth rate and feed effi¬ 
 ciency. Temperatures in excess of 50° F. were maintained 
 during the winter. No cleaning was required, except 
 when a pen was emptied to prepare for the next group 
 of pigs. 
 
 Working dronings may be obtained from the extension agricultural 
 engineer at your State university. There may be a small charge to cover 
 cost of printing. 
 
 If you do not knoic the location of your State university , send your re¬ 
 quest to Agricultural Engineer , Extension Service , L'.S. Department of 
 Agriculture , Washington, D.C. 20250. He will forward your request to 
 the correct university. 
 
 ORDER PLAN No. 6104, FINISHING FLOOR FOR 400 PIGS. 
 
 Agricultural Engineering Research Division AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE