How can nursery fences effectively prevent pigs from escaping while also preventing wild animals from entering and harming the piglets?
Publish Time: 2025-11-18
In modern pig farming systems, the nursery stage is a critical period determining survival rates and later growth performance. At this stage, piglets are small, active, and curious, making them highly susceptible to attempting to escape due to stress or exploratory behavior. Simultaneously, their resistance is weak; if attacked by wild dogs, weasels, snakes, or other wild animals, they may suffer from shock and reduced appetite, or even severe injury or death.
1. Height and Structure: Double Barrier, Preventing Climbing and Squeezing
Preventing piglets from escaping primarily depends on the appropriate height and seamless structure of the fence. Although small, piglets are adept at rooting and squeezing through gaps. Nursery fences are typically made of hot-dip galvanized steel pipes or high-strength composite materials, completely blocking their possibility of escaping from the bottom. The total fence height is recommended to be between 80–100cm—too high makes operation inconvenient, while too low allows weaned piglets with strong jumping abilities to easily climb over. Some high-end designs also include a 10-15cm inward-bending "anti-climbing eave" on the inner side of the top, preventing pigs from using it to climb over, forming a physical "one-way lock."
2. Material Strength and Corrosion Resistance: Withstanding Gnawing and Harsh Environments
Pigs have a habit of gnawing and rubbing against fences. Ordinary wire mesh or thin-walled pipes are easily deformed and damaged, creating gaps. Nursery fences must be made of hot-dip galvanized steel pipes with a wall thickness of ≥2.0mm or food-grade engineering plastics, with a smooth, burr-free surface. This prevents scratching the pigs and provides excellent impact and corrosion resistance. They will not rust or deform even after long-term use in humid, high-ammonia environments, ensuring the fence remains intact for ten years. In areas frequented by wild boars, an electrified pulse fence can even be added to the outer perimeter, forming a second line of defense.
3. Outer Protection: Constructing a "Buffer Zone" to Block Wildlife Pathways
Inner fencing alone is insufficient to deter predators such as wild dogs and foxes. A scientifically designed farm layout should include a 3-5 meter wide isolation zone around the nursery area, paved with gravel or hardened ground to eliminate grass cover and prevent wild animals from hiding. Key entrances should be equipped with double-locked escape-proof doors, ensuring at least one door remains closed when personnel enter or exit, eliminating the risk of "tailgating."
4. Intelligent Monitoring and Emergency Response: Technology-Enabled Proactive Defense
Modern intelligent pig farms further enhance their protection levels by incorporating technology. Infrared sensors or AI cameras are deployed at key points in the fence. Upon detecting abnormal movement, the system automatically triggers an audio-visual deterrent device and sends an alert to the management system. Some farms also combine electronic ear tags and positioning systems to monitor the pigs' location in real time. If individual pigs remain near the fence edge for an extended period, the system can alert the farm to potential stress or fence damage, enabling proactive intervention.
5. Human-Centered Design: Balancing Safety and Feeding Efficiency
Nursery fences must also consider the ease of operation for farm workers. For example, quick-release connectors facilitate cleaning and disinfection; the segmented fence design allows for flexible adjustment of pen size; and the integrated observation window and feeding port reduce the frequency of door opening. These details ensure safety while also improving biosecurity and labor efficiency.
The nursery fence system is far more than a simple "iron fence"; it is a comprehensive protection system integrating animal behavior, materials engineering, biosecurity, and intelligent technology. It uses a robust physical barrier to guard the first line of defense against internal and external threats, a scientifically designed layout to cut off intrusion paths, and intelligent technology to provide 24/7 early warning—this triple defense works synergistically to build an "invisible yet incredibly strong" life shield for delicate piglets.
