PIGS.docx

27.Pigs Large white An English breed with large erect ears, they have fast growth rate. Big litter size and good meat. Landrace A Danish breed, medium size with dropped ears. They have a long muscular body, good confirmation and are known for their lean meat. Duroc Come from the US, they are red...

27.Pigs Large white An English breed with large erect ears, they have fast growth rate. Big litter size and good meat. Landrace A Danish breed, medium size with dropped ears. They have a long muscular body, good confirmation and are known for their lean meat. Duroc Come from the US, they are red in colour and have a muscular body. They are fast growing and add a high a level of marbling to meat. Cross Breeding landrace and large white is done in majority of breeding system in Ireland. crossbred gilts are mated with purebred landrace/large white boars. There is a 50/50 chance of landrace or large whites. Boars must be replaced every 2 years to prevent inbreeding.  Integrated Pig Production Unit consist of a breeding unit and finishing unit all on the same farm.  This reduces risk of disease entry on the farm and reduces transport stresses on the pigs.  The breeding unit is where sows give birth to piglets in the farrowing house. They remain here until they are weaned at 4-5 weeks old. They are then moved to a weaner house where they are kept until they reach target weights. The finishing unit is also known as the fattening house. They are kept here until they reach slaughter weight. Piglets weigh 1.0-1.5 kg at birth. It is important after birth that all piglets latch on and get colostrum as they are born with very low energy levels. Farrowing crates are used for 1 week after birth to prevent the sow rolling over on them. The greatest risk to piglets is the first 48 hour of life due to starving or crushing, supervision is important currently. Naval should be sprayed with iodine to prevent naval ill. Piglets reared indoors should be given an iron injection to prevent anaemia. A creep area should be used separate to the farrowing create this allows piglets to regulate their temperature. Length of oestrous for a sow is 21 days. The Duration of oestrous is 2 – 3 days.  Gestation period: 114 days 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and lactation period: 28 days.  Sows can have up to two litters a year. Litter size can range from 5-22 piglets. Sows and gilts are housed in dry sow houses. Sows that have weaned a litter will come into heat a week later. When serviced they are typically double serviced. This is when sows are serviced twice within 24 hours by A.I. or the boar. This increase litter size. They remain in this house until the end of their pregnancy.  Nutrition of gilts and sows are fed 2.5kg concentrates and should not be over fed. During the fist 3 weeks of gestation. In the final 3 weeks they are then given 0.5kg extra increasing concentrates increases a sow colostrum. Feed also provides energy how quickly a pig can change feed into live weight gain LWG is calculated as feed conversion ratio FCR. Animals with a low FCR are efficient converters. FCR is extremely important in pig production. Housing of pigs is important each house is a different temperature to prevent pigs using up energy to keep warm. Housing Temperature Dry sow house 30 Farrowing unit 20 Weaner house 20-22 Fattener house 18-20 All housing should be dry, draught free and have good lighting. Good ventilation will prevent airborne diseases and prevent gas build up. Housing should not be overcrowded to reduce stress. Anaemia is a nutritional disease, caused by a lack of iron. Symptoms are pale skin, weakness, rapid breathing, and poor growth. An iron injection given to bonhams (2-3 days old) to prevent this. Pneumonia is a virus that causes chills. Symptoms include Coughing, fever, possible death. This ca be prevented by good housing, ventilation, temperature control. Lameness will affect growth and will cause difficulty walking and standing. Good hygiene and regular hoof care will prevent this. Load noise causes pigs to become stressed and can result in sows harming piglets. Farrowing units should be always kept quiet.