Will Matthews
!Principles of Animal Management: Pig Factsheet
PIGS
Normally use crosses between large white and
landrace in commercial untis.
Large white = ears upright, landrace = ears over
face!
Sometimes durocs are put into mix for standard
commercial white pigs.
Pig industry is pyramidal – breeding farms are
separate to fattening farms.
The commercial breeders may operate a contract rearing scheme – provide
piglets and food – farmers paid to fatten and look after piglets.
Indoor/outdoor profitability is the same.
Pig farms situated in e. Anglia & Humberside.
Food – barley – wheat – maize
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Obtain protein from – soya, legumes, oil seed rape.
Use natural service in pigs – easier – boar semen cannot be diluted or frozen.
Sows only come into heat when a boar is around
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- sight
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- sound
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- smell of a boar all triggers.
Will Matthews
!Principles of Animal Management: Pig Factsheet
Boars produce ⅕ to ½ litre of semen – anal winking indicates boar is
ejaculating – cork screw penis is held in place in cervix of sow.
!
Do not overuse a boar – producing that amount of semen will be tiring.
Average litter size – 10.5
Gestation period – 115 days (3m 3w 3d)
Oestrus cycle length – 21 days.
Signs of oestrus:
1. Standing to be mounted when back pressure applied
2. Ears pricked up
3. Reddening of the vulva
4. Increased vocalisation.
Out of 10 piglets about 9 will survive to weaning – others likely to get trampled
– keep piglets in a creep – piglets can escape from sow – food and heat lamp
in creep – sow cannot enter.
Piglets have to feed all at the same time – when one teat lactates, they all do best milk is nearest head – strongest piglet nearest head (usually)
Pigs weaned at 4 weeks (average 24 days) – but ranges from 21 to 28 days.
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- can be weaned early to reduce disease transfer from mother.
Pig weight & age of eating:
1. 50kgs – 28 weeks old – pork weight
2. >100kg – heavy hog – sausages & pâté
3. ~70kg – 6 months old – bacon weight
Neonatal piglets – donʼt vacicnate due to immunity from mother – clip canine
teeth (so doesnʼt scratch sowʼs teats) – castrate within 24 hours.
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- also give iron injection - especially for indoor pigs – prevent anaemia.
Castration of piglets – prevents boar taint – easier to handle – more fat layed
down with meat.
Giving birth = farrowing – on a farm will have a farrowing house, dry sow
house, fattening house (if applicable).
Slaughter houses for pigs are generally highly specialised - may be geared for
a particular weight pig.
Pig industry - very efficient - highly controlled, dictated by market price - no
subsidies - able to vary production depending on pig price.
To maximise the food intake of sows - 16 - 19oC, feed 2-3x daily - donʼt
overfeed during pregnancy - supply plenty of water.
Will Matthews
!Principles of Animal Management: Pig Factsheet
Main reasons to cull a sow:
1. Infertility or stopping showing signs of oestrus
2. Small litter sizes
3. Diseases - lameness
4. Old age