Swine Swine ManagementManagement

Characteristics of swineCharacteristics of swine

Pigs are HomeothermsPigs are Homeotherms Maintain a constant body temperatureMaintain a constant body temperature

Pigs are MonogastricsPigs are Monogastrics Pigs have very few sweat glandsPigs have very few sweat glands

HousingHousing

Types of housesTypes of houses Outside penOutside pen A- frame housesA- frame houses Open front buildingsOpen front buildings Environmentally regulated buildingsEnvironmentally regulated buildings

HousingHousing

HousingHousing

ReproductionReproduction

NaturalNatural AIAI Heat period averages 2 days and occurs Heat period averages 2 days and occurs

every 20-21 daysevery 20-21 days Can synchronize gilts by putting them Can synchronize gilts by putting them

together and in a pen next to a boartogether and in a pen next to a boar

Lock up when in heat (Lordosis)Lock up when in heat (Lordosis)

ReproductionReproduction

ReproductionReproduction

Boar penis is corkscrewedBoar penis is corkscrewed AI rod has to be corkscrewed as wellAI rod has to be corkscrewed as well

Boar semen cannot be frozenBoar semen cannot be frozen Shipped fresh overnightShipped fresh overnight

2 doses of semen are administered 2 doses of semen are administered 24 hours after 124 hours after 1stst incidence of standing heat incidence of standing heat 12 hours later12 hours later

Done because pigs are superovulatersDone because pigs are superovulaters

FarrowingFarrowing

Farrowing – the act of parturitionFarrowing – the act of parturition Gestation period- 114 days (3X3X3)Gestation period- 114 days (3X3X3) Put into farrowing crates few days before Put into farrowing crates few days before

expected parturitionexpected parturition Sow’s can have any number of babiesSow’s can have any number of babies Wean at 21 daysWean at 21 days Pigs are very susceptible to diseasePigs are very susceptible to disease

Many farms are total confinmentMany farms are total confinment

Farrowing CratesFarrowing Crates

Used to protect the baby pigs from being Used to protect the baby pigs from being crushed by the sowcrushed by the sow

Sow is confined in the middle so that she can’t Sow is confined in the middle so that she can’t turn aroundturn around

Equipped with feeder and watering deviceEquipped with feeder and watering device Space on both sides of the sow for babies Space on both sides of the sow for babies Use a heat lamp to keep babies warmUse a heat lamp to keep babies warm

Farrowing CratesFarrowing Crates

Navel Cord CareNavel Cord Care After birth excess navel cord is removedAfter birth excess navel cord is removed

Leave about 1 inch Leave about 1 inch

Treat navel cord with iodineTreat navel cord with iodine Why?Why?

Prevent infectionPrevent infection

Navel Cord CareNavel Cord Care

Clipping needle teethClipping needle teeth

Born with only eight teethBorn with only eight teeth Fairly long and sharpFairly long and sharp

Can irritate the sow while nursingCan irritate the sow while nursing Can remove these teeth to make more Can remove these teeth to make more

comfortable for the sowcomfortable for the sow We don’t clip We don’t clip

Clipping needle teethClipping needle teeth

Tail DockingTail Docking

Pigs are normally in a confined spacePigs are normally in a confined space Chew on others tailChew on others tail

Done out of boredomDone out of boredom

To prevent tail biting and the possibility of To prevent tail biting and the possibility of infection, tails are dockedinfection, tails are docked

Dock were tail can barely touch the pigs Dock were tail can barely touch the pigs backback

Tail DockingTail Docking

InjectionsInjections

3 types of injections3 types of injections SubcutaneousSubcutaneous IntramuscularIntramuscular IntravenousIntravenous

Two sites to give an injectionTwo sites to give an injection NeckNeck HamHam

InjectionsInjections

InjectionsInjections

InjectionsInjections

InjectionsInjections

Iron is administered about 24 hours after Iron is administered about 24 hours after birthbirth 1 cc of iron1 cc of iron Since pigs are in a create and don’t have Since pigs are in a create and don’t have

access to soil, iron- deficiency anemia can access to soil, iron- deficiency anemia can occuroccur

Some people give a small dose of Some people give a small dose of antibioticantibiotic

Give the sow penicillin Give the sow penicillin

Ear NotchingEar Notching

Most used identification method for baby Most used identification method for baby pigspigs

Removing a portion of the earRemoving a portion of the ear The notches grow as the pig growsThe notches grow as the pig grows

Permanent identificationPermanent identification Litter # and Pig #Litter # and Pig #

Litter # - the pigs right earLitter # - the pigs right ear Pig # - the pigs left eatPig # - the pigs left eat

Ear NotchingEar Notching

Litter #Litter # Number of litter for the whole farmNumber of litter for the whole farm Not for individual sowNot for individual sow

Pig # Pig # Individual number for the baby pigIndividual number for the baby pig Has nothing to do with the rest of the farmHas nothing to do with the rest of the farm

Ear NotchingEar Notching

Ear NotchingEar Notching

Ear NotchingEar Notching

CastrationCastration

Removal of the testiclesRemoval of the testicles Pigs are castrated if meant for slaughterPigs are castrated if meant for slaughter

Meat from boars may have an odor when Meat from boars may have an odor when cookingcooking

Takes testosterone out of the system, which Takes testosterone out of the system, which makes meat toughmakes meat tough

CastrationCastration

Best time for castration is between 1 and 14 Best time for castration is between 1 and 14 days days Pigs are easier to restrainPigs are easier to restrain Bleed less from the surgeryBleed less from the surgery

One person holds the pig by the back legs and One person holds the pig by the back legs and the other person does the castratingthe other person does the castrating Make small incisionsMake small incisions Make sure to use some type of antiseptic sprayMake sure to use some type of antiseptic spray

CastrationCastration

CastrationCastration

CastrationCastration

CastrationCastration

ParasitesParasites

CoccidiaCoccidia Affects nursing pigs between days 5 and 15Affects nursing pigs between days 5 and 15 Develop a yellowish, very fluid diarrheaDevelop a yellowish, very fluid diarrhea

Infected pigs do not respond well to Infected pigs do not respond well to antibiotic treatmentantibiotic treatment

Mortality rates will be moderate to highMortality rates will be moderate to high

ParasitesParasites

WormsWorms RoundwormsRoundworms Nodular wormsNodular worms WhipwormsWhipworms ThreadwormsThreadworms Stomach wormsStomach worms LungwormsLungworms Kidney wormsKidney worms

Doesn’t occur much in baby pigsDoesn’t occur much in baby pigs

Weaning Weaning

Baby pigs are weaned at 21 daysBaby pigs are weaned at 21 days Put in a nursery for a few weeksPut in a nursery for a few weeks

Until pigs are 40 – 45 lbsUntil pigs are 40 – 45 lbs

Moved to other pens for growing and Moved to other pens for growing and finishingfinishing