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If you want to keep pigs then you will need to research the rules housing for these animals under the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. If you provide inadequate accommodation for your pigs you could not only cause them discomfort but you could also face legal charges for breaking the statutory regulations. The basic rules for keeping pigs include: * Pigs must have adequate pace to stand up, turn round and rest without any difficulty. * The accommodation must be clean and comfortable and provide adequate shade and drainage. * The accommodation must be big enough for all the animals to lie down and rest at the same time. * The floor must be smooth and comfortable but not slippery * The structure must be rigid and stable. A pig ark is designed specially to meet all of the legal requirements for pig accommodation and is a practical and affordable choice. You can find out more about the regulations by downloading a help guide on pig keeping from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website. Ventilation and heating One important part of a pig ark is that it provides the right combination of ventilation and shelter needed for keeping animals. Pig arks are insulated to regulate heat loss and gain. This is particularly important to pigs as they are very sensitive to heat stress. In the hot summer months you may need to use additional cooling systems such as air blowers or water sprays to prevent overheating. Lighting and noise Pig arks are also designed to be used in conjunction with outdoor pens to allow the animals plenty of access to natural light. You may wish to add some artificial lighting to your pig ark as well, not just for the animals but also to make cleaning and changing the bedding much easier. Pigs do not like constant or sudden loud noises so you should take care to place your pig arks far away from any busy roads or automated machinery. Maintaining Pig Arks You must clean pig arks regularly and inspect them for any signs of damage at least once a day. In particular you will need to check that all of the alarm, drainage, lighting and ventilation features are still working effectively. You should check on your pigs twice a day at least to make sure they have the water, food and clean bedding they need. Hazards When you are choosing a site for your pig pen you need to make sure there are no natural hazards such as risks of flooding or overhanging branches that could fall in high winds. You will need an alarm system in place that can alert you to any emergencies such as floods or fires. You should a plan for evacuating the animals in place and make sure everyone who works or lives at your property understands these procedures in case of an emergency. Goldenriverfarms.co.uk offer high quality, cost-effective, hand- manufactured pig arks and pig house for more information please visit our site.
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