Some pork producers, both big and small, view alternative systems such as hoops, pasture, and Swedish deep-bedded as production systems for "the smaller producer, the hobby farmer and someone who isn't serious about raising hogs.'' There are producers, however, who demonstrate that "alternative" systems are adaptable to larger hog production operations.

One such person is Dave Struthers, a partner in a family farm corporation near Ames, Iowa. Struthers, along with his dad and brother, own and operate a 900-sow, farrow-to-finish hog farm. They grow about 800 acres of crops, with high-oil corn accounting for 75 percent of the production. The rest is in soybeans, with about 15 acres in oats and hay. Their 60 ewes eat the oats and hay.

This is the third year the Struthers will plant high-oil corn. The higher energy content in the corn increases the rate of gain in finish hogs, reduces dust in the facilities, and results in more milk from sows during farrowing and lactation. The family buys additional corn from the elevator to meet their livestock feeding needs, Struthers said.

The Struthers remodeled a building into a 140-crate confinement farrowing facility. The sows are also in confinement during gestation. The pigs are finished in both hoop structures and confinement, with 9,000 to 10,000 hogs moving through the hoops annually. The remaining pigs are in slatted or partially slatted-floor confinement buildings. Pigs enter the hoop buildings at 45-60 pounds of weight.

In 1996, when Dave's sister expressed interest in farming with the family, the Struthers first considered erecting two 1,100 head confinement units with pits or lagoons. The Struthers' lender expressed concern about the potential environmental impact and it became "too much of a hassle" to go the conventional route, Dave said. The family then began thinking about hoops as a low-cost method of expanding production. The neighbors' opinions and the farm's proximity to town were also considerations in the decision to build hoop barns. People "were more receptive to the idea of hoops than a conventional facility" because they viewed hoops as environmentally and community friendly,'' Dave said.

Comments from the Struthers' neighbors about the hoop barns are positive and there seem to be fewer bothersome odors. Occasional odor complaints occur from the confinement units, especially when hauling manure. There was also an odor complaint in the fall of 1998 from hoop barn manure that wasn't incorporated during fall tillage.

"There is even some smell still in the spring time from (hoop barn) manure that was applied in the fall when spring fieldwork begins. However, it doesn't seem to be as strong a smell as from the liquid manure,'' Dave said. The Struthers bought six hoop barns in 1996 and added seven more in 1998. Of the 13 hoop barns, one stores large round bales for bedding. Dave says the multi-use hoop barns could work for a variety of farm needs- sow gestation or other livestock cover, hay and bedding storage, etc. He also cites "no powerwashing, which needs to be done well," as an important feature. Good pig growth, fresh air from natural ventilation and less dust are also positive hoop barn attributes. The labor requirements between hoops and confinement are about equal.

"There seems to be fewer respiratory problems, especially less coughing in hoops. There is less dysentery as well. One of the key factors is to keep plenty of bedding and the hogs will stay healthier. The hogs also seem happier, or at least they keep more occupied,'' he said. "They have a larger area in which to roam. They root in and chew on the corn stalks.'' Negative features Dave finds with hoop barns are lower feed conversions when compared to more modern confinement systems. However, the Struthers' 1970's confinement buildings aren't as efficient as today's tunnel ventilated or double-curtain sided confinement buildings, so feed conversion is about equal to the hoops. Another negative is bedding, which requires handling, and it is another crop to manage. It is also harder to treat individual animals when they are sick.

The 1,800 large, round bales they harvested last year will supply ample bedding due to the mild winter. From December through January, each barn required four bales every 10 days. The bedding use depends on pig size and bedding quality. They utilize both corn stalk and bean stubble bedding. Bedding management in summer is more difficult because it heats up. `We have to use sprinklers to cool on humid, still days,but also must add dry bedding to keep the pigs away from the heat pack'," he said.

The Struthers find that the solid manure from hoop barns doesn't incorporate as wells into soil and has inconsistent nutrient levels when compared to liquid swine manure from pits. The Struthers apply nitrogen fertilizer to land where manure from the hoops is applied because solid manure has lower nitrogen content. The solid manure provides adequate potash and phosphorus levels. The family is taking part in an Iowa State University research project on hoop barn manure values and affects on crop yield.

The Struthers' are pleased with their hoop barns and recommend hoop barns to other pork producers. Hoop structures require that producers are comfortable as livestock managers, but they also address odor concerns and environmental challenges facing the industry, Struthers said. Wayne Martin can be reached at the U of M St. Paul Campus, 1-877-258-4647, or by e-mail at marti067@tc.umn.edu