Figuring out the best bedding to use for pigs takes some trial and error. Choosing the right bedding is important for their comfort, health, and overall well-being. A clean and comfortable environment will make a world of difference in a pig’s life. Let’s look at the most popular bedding options out there to help you choose the best bedding for your farm.
Contents
- Why Is Straw A Better Choice for Pig Bedding?
- Types Of Straw Used For Pig Bedding
- Straw vs Hay For Pig Bedding
- Wood Chips or Shavings
- Types Of Wood Shavings
- Pig Bedding FAQs
The Best Bedding To Use For Pigs
The Best Bedding to use for pigs is straw. Research shows that straw improves the overall well-being of the pig a couple of different ways. It creates a comfortable environment for pigs to lay on rather than hard flooring. It also allows the pig to do things that are natural for them like root and forage.
Our pigs are raised on pasture, but they still love a nice thick bed of straw. However, straw isn’t the only bedding option for pigs. Wood shavings will also work depending on the shelter they’re being raised in. Each type of bedding has different pros and cons for you to weigh.
Why is straw a better choice for pig bedding?
Straw is a natural bedding that is inexpensive and easy to find. It creates a soft comfortable bed for the pigs. Pigs will naturally want to find a soft spot to lay and straw provides that for them.
Straw is great to use for raising pigs in the winter months. It has a hollow shaft that traps and holds heat. I always provide enough bedding for the pigs to burrow deep down in their straw during cold weather.
Some mornings when I go out to their shelter I see steam rising off of it. They’ll be snuggled up in their straw staying nice and warm.
Straw can also act as insulation during the summer months keeping the flooring or ground cool for them.
Straw is also biodegradable. It will eventually break down if and add nutrients to your soil. It’s great to use in compost piles or on your garden beds.
The most important benefit of straw is the pig’s love for it. It satisfies their natural instincts to root around. They also like to chew on it which helps prevent them from chewing on another pig’s tail.
Sows love to build nests out of straw for their piglets. They’ll gather grass, straw, and sticks to create a soft and safe space for their little ones.
If you’re raising pigs in a barn or enclosed area, the straw will satisfy some of their natural behaviors. This will decrease the mischief they tend to get into.
Types of straw used for pig bedding
Wheat Straw is the most common type of straw used for pig bedding. It’s hollow which traps air to hold heat in the winter months. It’s also soft and makes a comfortable bed for the pigs. Wheat straw is inexpensive and easy to find in most area. It’s the best choice of straw options.
Barley Straw is softer than wheat straw so it’s great for bedding. It’s also more absorbent than other straw so it will help to keep the pig area dry.
Barley straw breaks down faster than other straws so you may have to replace it more regularly. It’s also not great for shelters with open sides because it will blow around more easily.
Oat Straw has a soft texture making it a great option for pigs. It’s absorbent and works great for keeping their area dry.
It breaks down quickly like barley straw. Pigs also like to eat Oat straw so you will be replacing it more regularly than wheat straw. It tends to be more expensive and not as easy to find as wheat straw.
Rye Straw is tougher than barley and oat. It’s not as soft, but it’s a lot more durable. You won’t have to replace it as often as you will other types of straw.
However, rye straw is prone to Ergot, a fungal infestation and can be harmful to pigs. You have to be observant and careful when using it as a bedding material.
Peanut hay is abundant here in Alabama. Peanuts are a major cash crop here in the Deep South. Peanut hay is the leftover stalks after the harvest. The pigs love to pick the leftover peanuts out of it but don’t like to eat the hay as much.
It’s a lot more rigid than oat and barley straw so it won’t break down as quickly. Peanuts are often sprayed with pesticides and herbicides so be sure to get a straw that’s safe for animal ingestion.
Straw vs Hay for Pig Bedding
Is straw or hay better for pig bedding? You may be thinking the two are very similar so they would both be good options.
Straw is made from the stalks of plants like wheat after the grain has been harvested. It’s tough and thick which makes it great for bedding.
Straw also doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value so the pigs aren’t as likely to eat it.
Hay on the other hand is made from dried grasses. The pigs will eat the hay which means it won’t last very long. If you’re feeding your pigs a specific diet, they may choose to eat the hay over the feed causing problems to their digestive systems.
Hay is also less absorbent than straw. The straw will create a dryer environment for your pigs than hay. Wet or damp bedding can cause all sorts of problems like bad smells, bacterial growth, and other harmful things that will harm your pigs or cause respiratory problems.
Hay tends to be more expensive than straw since it is used for food. The breed of pigs you’re choosing to raise will also play a role in how much hay they eat. Breeds that graze or are raised on pasture will eat a lot of hay. To find out which breeds are best for grazing check out the best pig breeds for the farm.
Straw is the leftovers after a harvest so it’s one of the more inexpensive materials. The use of discarded materials makes it one of the most sustainable bedding options with very little environmental impact.
Wood Chips or Shavings
Depending on the type of environment you’re raising your pigs in wood shavings can be a good option.
Shavings have a lot of benefits if your pigs are in an enclosed area like a pig barn. It’s a good choice for raising piglets because it’s soft and absorbent it also takes up less space than straw if you have a smaller cage size. However, there are many different options to choose from.
It’s very absorbent bedding and leaves a dry, clean environment for your pigs. It’s also one of the more inexpensive materials you can use as bedding and it’s easy to find most anywhere.
Types Of Wood Shavings
Pine shavings are one of the most common types of wood-based bedding used for animals. It’s soft and is a natural form of odor control.
It’s also low in dust which is important because dust can cause respiratory illness in pigs. These qualities make pine shavings the best option of all the wood bedding types.
Cedar Shavings have a natural oil that produces a strong odor. The smell can be a lot for pigs and can also cause respiratory infections.
Also, a lot of animals tend to have an allergy to cedar which is a major concern. It’s a good idea to stay away from cedar shavings and stick to the use of inexpensive pine bedding.
Aspen wood shavings are hardwood shaving that’s more sturdy than softwoods like pine. It also doesn’t have the strong oils that cedar shaving has. It’s low in dust so it won’t harm the pig’s respiratory system which makes it a great choice.
Aspen shavings are as easy to find as pine shavings. They’re also higher in price than pine shavings.
Saw Dust shouldn’t be used for pig bedding. The dust will cause respiratory issues and create other health problems for the pigs.
Bedding Pellets are very absorbent and work great for absorbing moisture. They’re also soft and comfortable for the pigs. The bedding pellets produce very little dust so they won’t irritate the pig’s respiratory system.
I love using this type of bedding in my chicken run. It keeps it dry and odor-free.
Bedding pellets are very expensive so they aren’t a cost-effective option. However, they last a long time and are worth the investment.
Pig Bedding FAQs
How often should I change the bedding for pigs?
It depends on the type of bedding and how many pigs you have. You will need to change wood shavings once a week or more depending on how saturated the bedding gets. Straw might need to be changed weekly to decrease the odor and moisture.
This will also vary depending on whether the pigs are housed indoors or outside in a shelter. Keeping their bedding clean is the key to raising healthy pigs.
Can I compost pig bedding?
Yes! Both straw and wood shavings are biodegradable, so they can be composted when you’re done with them. Just make sure you let the compost break down completely before using it in your garden or on your fields, as it might contain bacteria from the pig waste. Composting usually involves turning the pile and letting it sit for several months.
Are Wood Shavings Better Than Straw For Pig Bedding?
Wood shavings are more absorbent than straw, which helps keep the pig pen drier and cleaner. They’re also softer, which makes them comfortable for pigs to rest on. However, wood shavings can be more expensive, and some types can cause allergic reactions in pigs. Straw, on the other hand, is generally cheaper and is a better insulation. It really comes down to what matters most to you when choosing the most suitable bedding.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best bedding for your pigs is one of the most important decisions you can make for their health. It comes down to what works for your setup, pig breeds, and your budget.
If you want a budget-friendly option that will keep your pigs warm in winter then straw gets you the best bang for your buck.
Pigs also love to root around in the straw and chew on it.
If you need bedding that’s more absorbent and decreases odors, wood shavings would be a better option. Just make sure you stick with a low-dust option that doesn’t have irritating oils to decrease any health issues.
Whatever you decide keeping your pigs happy, clean, and healthy is the key to successfully raising pigs.
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