Baled Straw Farrowing House

Baled Straw Farrowing House CROPS Straw 8-3-6 Don Garnett, Lewiston, Mo., developed the idea of building individual farrowing houses out of baled straw while teaching an adult farm class. "Students enrolled in the program were farming in the Missouri Ozark country and some were in need of an inexpensive way of expanding or improving their farrowing operations. Many were pasture farrowing in summer and were looking for an inexpensive way to extend their farrowing season from early spring to later in the fall when cool weather would force them inside. Straw farrowing houses give good protection and save on supplemental heating. Straw is an excellent insulating material and can withstand the effects of weather for one or two years before rotting away. "The frame of the farrowing crate is made using scrap lumber. The crate is made to be three bales long and three bales high, making it 8 to 9 ft. long, 4 to 5 ft. high and 4 to 5 ft. wide. The house is designed with a pig area the width of one bale on the bottom. The roof boards, and end of the house, can be covered with bales of straw, when needed, to trap heat inside. "The house is easy and quick to make and can be ideal for farmers who need temporary facilities. the bales at the end can be removed for summer farrowing. The houses can be used in the winter in some areas. "Each house uses about 30 bales of straw if the tops and end are covered with bales. The bottom of the crates can be covered with gravel and straw to keep them dry."

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