Pigs Quiz

Study Notes

Pig Breeds

Large White: English breed with large erect ears, fast growth rate, big litter size, and good meat quality.
Landrace: Danish breed, medium size with dropped ears, long muscular body, good conformation, and known for lean meat.
Duroc: Originating from the US, red in color with a muscular body, fast growing, and adds high marbling to meat.
Crossbreeding: Landrace and Large White are commonly crossbred in Ireland for optimal pig production.

Pig Production System

Integrated Pig Production Unit: Combines breeding and finishing units on the same farm, reducing disease risk and transport stress.
Breeding Unit: Sows give birth and raise piglets in the farrowing house until weaning (4-5 weeks old).
Weaner Unit: Weaned piglets are transferred to the weaner house and kept until they reach target weights.
Finishing Unit (Fattening House): Pigs are moved to the fattening house to reach slaughter weight.

Reproduction and Management

Piglet Birth: Piglets weigh 1.0-1.5 kg at birth and need to latch on for colostrum immediately due to low energy levels.
Farrowing Crates: Used for 1 week after birth to prevent sows from crushing piglets.
Critical Period: The first 48 hours of life are crucial for piglets due to the risk of starvation or crushing.
Naval Care: Spraying piglets' navels with iodine prevents naval ill.
Iron Injection: Indoor reared piglets receive iron injections to prevent anemia.
Creep Area: A separate area in the farrowing unit allows piglets to regulate their temperature.
Oestrous Cycle: A sow's oestrous cycle is 21 days long, with a 2-3 day duration of oestrous.
Gestation Period: 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days).
Lactation Period: 28 days.
Litter Size: Sows can have up to two litters per year, with litter sizes ranging from 5-22 piglets.
Double Servicing: Sows are typically serviced twice within 24 hours (AI or boar) to increase litter size.

Housing and Temperature

Dry Sow Houses: Used to house sows that have weaned a litter.
Housing Temperatures:
- Dry Sow House: 30°C
- Farrowing Unit: 20°C
- Weaner House: 20-22°C
- Fattener House: 18-20°C
Housing Requirements:
- Dry, draught-free, good lighting, good ventilation, and not overcrowded.

Nutrition

Sows and Gilts: Fed 2.5kg of concentrates and should not be overfed.
Gestation: Concentrates are increased by 0.5kg in the final three weeks of gestation to increase colostrum production.
Live Weight Gain (LWG): Measured by feed conversion ratio (FCR). Lower FCR indicates more efficient feed conversion.

Pig Diseases

Anaemia: Caused by iron deficiency, characterized by pale skin, weakness, rapid breathing, and poor growth. Prevented by iron injections.
Pneumonia: Viral disease causing chills, coughing, fever, and potentially death. Prevented by proper housing, ventilation, and temperature control.
Lameness: Affects growth and causes walking and standing difficulties. Prevented by good hygiene and regular hoof care.

Stress Management

Noise: Load noise can stress pigs and lead to sows harming piglets. Farrowing units should be kept quiet.

Description

Explore the various breeds of pigs, including Large White, Landrace, and Duroc, along with their characteristics and advantages in meat production. Learn about the integrated pig production system, which combines breeding, weaning, and finishing units for optimal pig farming. This quiz is essential for anyone interested in animal husbandry or agriculture.