If we all thought alike what a boring world this would be. It is obvious that some people in our area have thought about and have spent some time with hogs and are well aquainted with their likes and dislikes. But I wonder if they know the one thing hogs like most [because they have no sweat glands] is to wallow in the muck and mire to cool their hot little bodies. Happy hogs most generally are lying in the hog wallow under a shade tree not scampering around in the sunshine. They get sunburnt just like the rest of us so it's better to stay muddy and in the shade. So if you are going to raise them in a confined area you have to moderate their environment by cooling them in the summer (and that includes cool mists of water cascading down from sprinkling units) and heating in the winter so that they don't lose their ears and tails to frost bite like field raised hogs use to do. Most confined pigs get hosed off every day and are in a much cleaner environment than field raised hogs. And as far as using their straw as compost most people agree that sheep and horse manure are a much better choice on homeowners gardens and lawns but hog manure is probably best used for field crops.  read more »