Pig Farming: Preventing Odor and Managing Waste
1. Design Your Pig Housing for Easy Cleaning
The way you build your piggery affects how well you manage waste.
What a good pig house should include:
- Sloped concrete floors so urine and water drain easily.
- A gutter or channel leading to a waste pit or septic tank.
- A raised or slatted floor system (optional) that allows droppings to fall below for easy collection.
- Separate sleeping, feeding, and waste zones to keep pigs clean and reduce contamination.
Tip: Don't build pig pens too close to water wells, streams, or neighboring homes.
2. Clean Pens Daily and Disinfect Weekly
Cleaning is your best defense against bad smells, flies, and diseases.
Daily cleaning routine:
- Remove solid waste (manure) and leftover feed.
- Scrub the floor with water and a mild disinfectant.
- Clear drains and make sure water is flowing freely.
- Change or add dry bedding (like sawdust or rice husk) in farrowing pens.
Weekly Routine:
- Use lime, bleach, or natural disinfectants to kill bacteria.
- Burn or bury heavy waste far from the farm.
- Remove urine-soaked litter to avoid ammonia buildup.
Pro Tip: Use EM (Effective Microorganisms) solutions to break down waste and control odor naturally.
3. Compost Pig Waste into Organic Fertilizer
Instead of throwing pig waste away, turn it into compost that can fertilize crops or be sold.
How to compost pig manure:
- Mix manure with dry plant material (sawdust, dry leaves, straw) in a 3:1 ratio.
- Pile it in a shaded area or compost bin.
- Turn the pile every 3–4 days to let air in.
- Add water if it gets too dry, or dry material if it's too wet.
- In 4–8 weeks, you'll have dark, earthy-smelling compost.
Benefits of composting:
- Reduces odor and disease-causing bacteria.
- Creates extra income (sell as fertilizer).
- Supports sustainability — less waste, more growth.
Note: Don't use raw pig manure on vegetables — it must be composted first!
4. Use Biosecurity Measures to Control Flies, Rats, and Parasites
Waste attracts flies and rodents — which spread disease and increase odor problems.
What to do:
- Cover waste pits or compost areas with mesh or tarpaulin.
- Use fly traps, lime powder, or poultry dust to reduce fly breeding.
- Store feed properly to avoid attracting rats.
- Seal pen cracks or holes to block pest entry.
5. Install a Biogas System (Advanced Option)
For larger farms, a biogas digester can turn pig waste into:
- Cooking gas (methane)
- Organic slurry for crop farms
How It Works:
- Manure flows into an airtight tank.
- Bacteria break it down and release gas.
- The gas is stored and piped to kitchens or stoves.
- The leftover waste is safe to use as liquid fertilizer.
This is a great long-term investment for sustainable farming.
Final Thoughts
Pig farming doesn't have to stink — literally! With smart pen design, regular cleaning, and waste recycling, you can turn what most people see as "dirty" into a clean, profitable system.
At Alawusa Heritage Fish & Farms, we've learned that when you respect nature's cycles — even pig waste becomes part of your farm's success story.
Summary Checklist:
| Action | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Build pens with slope and drainage | Easy cleaning, less odor |
| Clean daily, disinfect weekly | Prevents bacteria and ammonia smell |
| Compost manure with dry plant waste | Creates fertilizer, reduces waste |
| Control flies, pests, and rodents | Less disease, cleaner environment |
| Install biogas system (if possible) | Turns waste into energy and income |
"Waste isn't the end of the story — it's the beginning of something new."
— Farmers' wisdom from the Alawusa Heritage family legacy