Economic Assessment of Hog Raising in Different Types of Housing

The growth response and economic profitability of country pigs raised in different housing was evaluated using the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a total of nine weanlings randomly distributed into three treatments. The country pigs were reared in cemented flooring (T1), slatted wood elevated floor (T2) and compacted soil with rice hull (T3) for ninety days (90). The animals were obtained from local backyard hog raisers and they were subject to feeding trials for ninety days (90). Feeds were mixed based on the weekly consumption of the experimental animals. The Golden kuhol was crushed and sundried for 2 to 3 days. The kangkong stalks were chopped approximately 2-3 centimeters in length. These were mixed well with ground super corn, "Ground 7 kinds Concentrates", corn grits, rice bran, muscovado sugar, copra meal and ordinary salt. Two to three liters of water were added until the feed was wet before feeding. The country pigs were fed twice a day at six o’clock in the morning and three o’clock in the afternoon at the compounded ration of 800 grams per hog or 2.4 kgs per day per pen. Feeds were increased per week based on the need of the animals through out the study. Vitamins supplementation was given as needed to the animals. Clean drinking water was made available at all times. Cleaning of pens and animals was done everyday, and disinfection of pens was applied every after two weeks. Rice hull used as floor bedding materials was put up and increased every one week from the start of the study until its completion. The study revealed that there is a difference on the economic profitability using compacted soil with the rice hull (T3) with the highest Return on Investment rate (ROI) of 29% compared to slatted wood elevated floor (T2) with ROI of 26% and ground cemented flooring (T1) with ROI of 25%. However no significant difference was noted on the different treatments on the growth performance of the pigs. Raising country pigs in a compacted soil with rice hull as bedding materials rather than elevated and cemented flooring is more profitable and economical.