Hoops or hoop structures are being used for growing and finishing swine. The hoop is an arched facility with wooden sidewalls and a tarp stretched over a tubular steel frame. Most hoops have dirt floors, except for concrete slabs used for feeding and watering. The floor is covered with straw, corn stalks, or other suitable material.
Hoop structures reverse the trend towards capital intensive production of pork. They are relatively low investment but require more labor than traditional production systems.
Resources
Costs, Returns, Production and Financial Efficiency of Niche Pork Production in 2008, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Health Challenges in Midwestern "Niche" Pork Production Systems, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Funding Impact Brief: Hoop Barns - Alternative Hog Production System Research, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture