6. Pig and poultry production

Question 1

What are the production types in a pig production unit?

Answer 1

Indoor bred 
Outdoor bred 
Outdoor reared 
Free-range 
Organic

Question 2

What do piglets need in the first 24 hours?

Answer 2

Adequate colostrum, iron, teeth, tail, ear notching/tattooing/ear tagging, cross fostering

Question 3

Why do piglets need an iron injection?

Answer 3

Anaemia, slow growth rate, reduced disease resistance

• small iron reserve: 50mg, milk; little iron-rapid growth = high iron requirement:7mg/day
• administered about 24hrs after birth

Question 4

What do we look for at iron injecting, teeth and tailing?

Answer 4

Minimise stress to piglets, non-viable pigs

- clean, well-maintained equipment, new needles between litters, correct handling and disposal, cleaning of equipment

Question 5

Why are some piglets fostered?

Answer 5

First 24hrs of life

Even out litter size, sufficient working teats

Question 6

Why are some piglets castrated?

Answer 6

Welfare consideration/assurance scheme

• slower growing (e.g. rare breeds, extensive, pets)
• done <7 days of age without anaesthetic/analgesic

Question 7

When are piglets weaned?

Answer 7

3-4 weeks of age 
- induces oestrus 
- reduces loss of condition in the sow 
Organic systems wean at 6-8 weeks 
Legal requirement of 28 days vs 21 days 
- stressful to piglets

Question 8

Describe the cycle for a breeding sow

Answer 8

Oestrus 120kg, 210 days, gilt - every 21 days year round
Mate gilts on 2nd/3rd oestrus
Gestation is 115 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)
Lactate 28 days
Cull after parity 6-8

Question 9

What is the current farrowing legislation?

Answer 9

Tether stall banned - EU
Sow stall banned - Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Florida,
- Restricted - Phillippines
due to be banned in EU, New Zealand, Australia

Question 10

How is farrowing induced?

Answer 10

Assists management
Prostaglandin + oxytocin given
95% of animals will commence farrowing within 36 hours, majority within 24 hours