Hog Farming Without Chemicals & Hormones

By Lianne Derocco


Factory hog farms produce millions of pounds of pork each year, providing much food for the masses. However, while the pork is produced in abundance, it is often raised in an unhealthy way. This includes using many types of unnatural products such as hormones, antibiotics and chemicals that are needed to keep diseases at bay. The amount of agricultural waste at these farms is also an area of concern, as the waste can be toxic and poses a threat to the surrounding communities.

Organic hog farms, however, are on the rise, and these types of farms might be a bit easier on the environment as well as producing meat and raising animals more humanely. Often hogs raised on factory-type farms are fed with a mix of soy and corn as well as other substances to increase growth. These mixes certainly produce fatter hogs, but not necessarily more nutritious or safer meat.

Organic farmers use natural feed without hormones or antibiotics, which means that traces of these products are not found in the meat. The way animals are kept also differs between natural piggery farms and factory farms. Natural piggeries provide more free range space for the hogs, and provide less crowded housing that includes natural and organic bedding and proper amounts of sunlight.

Keeping diseases away from the hog population is a huge priority on all hog farms, whether it is an organic farm or a large-scale venue. Typically, on both types of farms, animals that are new are not placed with the general population until it can be ascertained that they have no infectious diseases. It is also recommended that few people have access to the animals in general and that workers not move from different sections of the farm without changing clothing and boots to prevent the spreading of disease.

Agricultural waste is certainly an issue that all farmers must deal with, but even large-scale operations can use safe and natural products to manage waste. The AgraSphreLGT or the AgraSphere are two options that contain no chemicals and instead rely on naturally occurring bacteria to reduce sludge in a deep pit system, a pull plug system or a lagoon. In addition, these will also prevent dangerous crusting.

Both products contain no unnatural substances, and require no mixing. You simply toss in an adequate number of spheres and they begin to activate, releasing microbes consistently around the clock. In addition to reducing sludge and stopping crust from forming, these products also reduce the odor and flies that accompany hog waste systems. The AgraSphereLGT will even improve the nutrient value of your lagoon manure for use as a fertilizer.




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