Conservation Practices In Outdoor Production Systemss

Lee Menius, Jennifer Curtis

Silvana Pietrosemoli, Jim Green, Chris Bordeaux,

Conservation Practices in
Outdoor Hog
Production Systems:
Findings and
Recommendations from the
Center for Environmental
Farming Systems
Funding provided by the USDA, NRCS
Conservation Innovation Grant Program
November 2012

North Carolina State University
Center For Environmental Farming SystemsConservation Practices in
Outdoor Hog
Production Systems:
Findings and
Recommendations from the
Center for Environmental
Farming Systems

Silvana Pietrosemoli, Jim Green, Chris Bordeaux,
Lee Menius, Jennifer Curtis

Raleigh, NC 2012

Acknowledgements
This project would not have been possible without funding from the United States Department of
Agricu ltu re, Natu ral Resou rcesConservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grant Program. We
thank them for their support.
A number of people contributed time and expertise to this project. Whether they are research and
extension personnel, graduate students or interns at North Carolina State University and North
Carolina Agriculture & Technical University, hog farmers, or staff at the NC Department of
Agriculture & ConsumerServices, their contributions were of critical importance. We thank the
following individuals: Dr. Nancy Creamer, Dr. Morgan Morrow, Dr. Ronney Vibart, Dr. Geoff
Benson, Dr. Charles Rackcowsky, Dr. Niki Whitley, Dr. Julie Grossman, Dr. Deanna Osmond, Dr.
Jeffrey White, Dr. Oh Sang Hyon, Dr. Consuelo Arellano, Dr. Matt Poore, Dr. Jean -Marie Luginbuhl,
Lawrence Elworth, Tim Holmes, Bart Renner,Heather Glennon, Renee and Randall Parker, Bailey
Newton, Sandra and Jeff Garner, Genell Pridgen, Christine and Michael Underwood, Lee Haywood,
Domisty Menius, Andrew Meier, Marty Dudley, Brad Hardison, Jason Talton, Brian Hester, Steven
Stewart, Juan Carlos Guevara, Carolina Vix, Roberto Franco, Jorge Cardona, Walter Maradiaga,
Arlin Lobo, Ariel Zelaya, Vanessa Guifarro, Adeia Nevels,Gabriella Minchiotti, Elizabeth Noblet,
Catherine May and Deanna Goldner.

Table of Contents

I. Purpose

1

II. Introduction

2

III. Approach & Methods

3

IV. Findings & Recommended Practices

5

V. Research Trials

18

VI. On-Farm Demonstration Profiles

31

Triple B Farm

34

Parker Farm

45

VII. Summary and Future Research Needs

54

IX Appendices

56Appendix A: Student Contributions

57

Appendix B: Papers and Peer Reviewed Abstracts

58

Appendix C: Crop Species and Their Primary Season
of Growth and Use by Hogs

60

Appendix D: Schematic for Rotational Management
System

61

I. Purpose
The purpose of this report is to provide
information about conservation practices in
outdoor hog production systems and to identifyrecommended practices that conserve natural
r esources while
optimizing
animal
performance.
The report is intended for outdoor, pasture
based hog producers and those who advise
them, including extension agents, NRCS
District Conservationists,
Soil and Water
Conservation District workers and third-party
auditors. The report draws on research and onfarm demonstration trials conducted byresearch personnel and consultants affiliated
with the Center for Environmental Farming
Systems (CEFS) and funded by the USDA’s
NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant Program.

Historically, hogs were reared in the outdoors
and much research was conducted to evaluate
how forages could be used to meet their
nutritional needs. There is a significant amount
of historical research on the effectsof forage
quality on meat yield, animal health and costs
of production. However, there is a very limited
amount of published data on the impact of hog
production systems on plant survival, soil
disturbance, nutrient loading and animal
behavior.
This report is designed to provide a summary
discussion
of
key
findings
and
recommendations (See Section IV). For those
readers who want...