Gabrielle Albertha C.

Burgos AGRI 111 CD-2L Exercise 5: Assessment of Farming System Topic: Controlled Environment in Hogs What is a controlled Environment? A Controlled Environment is a condition by which animals/ plants are subjected to a secluded area where the environment is manipulated by man in order to improve the quality of the organism involved. The ultimate goal of the producer is to provide the proper environment to maximize the well-being and productivity of both animal and the workers. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Controlled Environment? Advantages: handling hogs easier provide for more direct observation of animals, allow greater control of the production process, protect both animals and workers from the heat, cold, and rain result in faster growth to market weight Better feed efficiency.

Disadvantage Needs a lot of Capital For large scale production Labor intensive- needs monitoring

Hogs are very sensitive animals. Any stress or change in environment may affect their marketable performance which is why researchers suggest controlling the environment of these monogastric animals. Doing so would lessen the stress given to the animals. Also, the right ambiance and temperature is provided with the animals. In a controlled environment, the animals are easily handled

even when the operation is at large scale. With the systematic design of a controlled environment, operations are made easy. Having a controlled environment on hog production is being done by other developed countries while only a few here in the Philippines adapts to controlling the environment. Managing a controlled environment has its own advantages and disadvantages. Aside from easier handling of hogs, it provides for more direct observation of animals. It also allows greater control of the production process of the animals; protect both the animal and the worker from heat, cold and rains and results to a faster growth to market weight and feed efficiency. Along with the advantages are the disadvantages. In managing a controlled environment need a large capital for the maintenance as well as the equipment used. Operations done in this kind of system should be at large scale so as not to waste further loss of net income. If a farmer does this system having a backyard level size of hogs, then the farmer is only wasting his money. Production should be large so as to compensate for the expenditures incurred in the maintenance of a controlled environment. Another disadvantage is that it is labor intensive. Since this kind of system needs monitoring, workers are hired given that the operation is large-scale. Compared to a backyard farm, it only requires fewer workers. STEEP MATRIX SCORING OF CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT IN HOG PRODUCTION Criteria Relative Score

-ECOLOGICAL Short term: efficiency in the use of natural resources Long term: conservation of natural resources, protection of environment

++

BIOLOGICAL Short term: productivity of animals Long efficiency term: and biological maximum

potential of production SOCIOLOGICAL Short term: adoption and adjustment of technologies Long term: farmers social status, values MANAGEMENT Short term: efficient use of resources for production Long term: feasibility and stability in the use of other community

resources for production

ECONOMIC Short term: basic needs, maximization of income Long term: Standard of living, optimization of income

investments. Key:

- - = very weak - = weak 0 = moderate + = strong ++ = very strong

Discussion: In the ecological perspective, controlled environment in the short run has a moderate score of efficiency in the use of natural resources (water, light, soil) because in a controlled environment, natural resources are maximized but a t a certain level of control. The control is still based on the desire of the person handling the farm. In the long run, conservation of natural resources, protection of the environment has a weak score because natural resources are not conserved and the environment is not protected given that control of environment may harm the environment in ways such as the waste disposal of the animals are disposed in the environment. In the Biological perspective, productivity of animals in the short run is strong. The hogs subjected to a controlled environment maximize the productivity since the right amount of feed, temperature, and care are given to the animals. In the long run, biological efficiency and maximum potential of production is very strong because since the production is at a large scale, and that the right environment is provided, production will be maximized. In the Sociological perspective, the adoption and adjustment of technologies in the short run is weak because farmers are generally short-handed with capital. Managing a controlled environment requires a big capital. In the long run, the farmers social status and other community values are very weak because aside from lack of capital, the community does not well adapt this kind of system because they prefer the old style of raising hogs. Most farmers do not want to take risk for further production thinking that there would be possible loss of income and waste of capital. This is the reason why most of them remain backyard farmers.

In the management perspective, efficient use of resources for production in the short run is strong. Since the system is monitored, resources for production are also controlled. Feasibility and stability in the use of resources for production in the long run is also strong. In the economic perspective, the basic needs and maximization of income in the short run because managing a controlled environment has a higher source of income because market-buyers prefer meat with good qualities which are provided with the controlled environment. In the same way, the standard of living and optimization of income is very strong in the long run because with many hogs, there is also many potential sources of income which in turn would result to elevating the standard of living of a farmer.