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Swine Management. Characteristics of swine. Pigs are Homeotherms Maintain a constant body temperature Pigs are Monogastrics Pigs have very few sweat glands. Housing. Types of houses Outside pen A- frame houses Open front buildings Environmentally regulated buildings. Housing. Housing.
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Characteristics of swine • Pigs are Homeotherms • Maintain a constant body temperature • Pigs are Monogastrics • Pigs have very few sweat glands
Housing • Types of houses • Outside pen • A- frame houses • Open front buildings • Environmentally regulated buildings
Reproduction • Natural • AI • Heat period averages 2 days and occurs every 20-21 days • Can synchronize gilts by putting them together and in a pen next to a boar • Lock up when in heat (Lordosis)
Reproduction • Boar penis is corkscrewed • AI rod has to be corkscrewed as well • Boar semen cannot be frozen • Shipped fresh overnight • 2 doses of semen are administered • 24 hours after 1st incidence of standing heat • 12 hours later • Done because pigs are superovulaters
Farrowing • Farrowing – the act of parturition • Gestation period- 114 days (3X3X3) • Put into farrowing crates few days before expected parturition • Sow’s can have any number of babies • Wean at 21 days • Pigs are very susceptible to disease • Many farms are total confinment
Farrowing Crates • Used to protect the baby pigs from being crushed by the sow • Sow is confined in the middle so that she can’t turn around • Equipped with feeder and watering device • Space on both sides of the sow for babies • Use a heat lamp to keep babies warm
After birth excess navel cord is removed Leave about 1 inch Treat navel cord with iodine Why? Prevent infection Navel Cord Care
Clipping needle teeth • Born with only eight teeth • Fairly long and sharp • Can irritate the sow while nursing • Can remove these teeth to make more comfortable for the sow • We don’t clip
Tail Docking • Pigs are normally in a confined space • Chew on others tail • Done out of boredom • To prevent tail biting and the possibility of infection, tails are docked • Dock were tail can barely touch the pigs back
Injections • 3 types of injections • Subcutaneous • Intramuscular • Intravenous • Two sites to give an injection • Neck • Ham
Injections • Iron is administered about 24 hours after birth • 1 cc of iron • Since pigs are in a create and don’t have access to soil, iron- deficiency anemia can occur • Some people give a small dose of antibiotic • Give the sow penicillin
Ear Notching • Most used identification method for baby pigs • Removing a portion of the ear • The notches grow as the pig grows • Permanent identification • Litter # and Pig # • Litter # - the pigs right ear • Pig # - the pigs left eat
Ear Notching • Litter # • Number of litter for the whole farm • Not for individual sow • Pig # • Individual number for the baby pig • Has nothing to do with the rest of the farm
Castration • Removal of the testicles • Pigs are castrated if meant for slaughter • Meat from boars may have an odor when cooking • Takes testosterone out of the system, which makes meat tough
Castration • Best time for castration is between 1 and 14 days • Pigs are easier to restrain • Bleed less from the surgery • One person holds the pig by the back legs and the other person does the castrating • Make small incisions • Make sure to use some type of antiseptic spray
Parasites • Coccidia • Affects nursing pigs between days 5 and 15 • Develop a yellowish, very fluid diarrhea • Infected pigs do not respond well to antibiotic treatment • Mortality rates will be moderate to high
Parasites • Worms • Roundworms • Nodular worms • Whipworms • Threadworms • Stomach worms • Lungworms • Kidney worms • Doesn’t occur much in baby pigs
Weaning • Baby pigs are weaned at 21 days • Put in a nursery for a few weeks • Until pigs are 40 – 45 lbs • Moved to other pens for growing and finishing