Animal Production Flashcards
involves the breeding, raising, and management of animals for food, fiber, and other by-products.
Animal production
Breeds of Swine
Different breeds are chosen based on their characteristics, such as
growth rate, meat quality, and reproductive performance.
Common Pig Breeds
- Yorkshire
- Duroc
- Landrace
- Berkshire
- Hampshire
– Large, lean, fast-growing, and good for bacon production.
Yorkshire
– Red-colored breed known for rapid growth and high meat quality.
Duroc
– Excellent mothering ability with long bodies, good for breeding purposes.
Landrace
– Produces high-quality, marbled pork with good flavor.
Berkshire
– Black pigs with a white belt, known for good meat quality and strong disease resistance.
Hampshire
Types of Swine Production Based on Purpose
- Breeder Farms
- Farrow-to-Finish
- Wean-to-Finish
- Meat Processing Farms
– Focus on producing piglets for sale or farm expansion.
Breeder Farms
– Pigs are bred, raised, and grown to market weight in one location.
Farrow-to-Finish
– Purchased piglets are raised until slaughter weight.
Wean-to-Finish
Farms – Pigs are raised specifically for processed pork products like sausages and ham.
Meat Processing
- Mating purebred individuals of the same breed. The progeny has the same genetic makeup. The major objective of pure-breeding is to identify and propagate superior genes for use in commercial production primarily in crossbreeding programs as well as to propagate and identify superior females for maintaining valuable genetic material.
Pure breeding
- Mating individuals of the same breed but who are less closely related than the average of the breed. There should not be a common ancestor for at least four generation back in the pedigree of the boar and the females with which he is mated. It is a useful mating system in purebred individuals.
Out breeding
- Mating between individuals of the same breed but which are more closely related than the average of the breed. This could be between as close individuals as full sibs or sire – daughter, mother - son. Pure breeding is a special kind of in-breeding.
In breeding
- Mating two individuals from different breeds thus introducing into the progeny a gene combination that is different from that existing in either parent or in the breed of either parent. Cross breeding can involve two or more breeds, depending on the desired result.
Cross breeding
– Viral disease-causing fever and high mortality.
Hog Cholera (Classical Swine Fever)
– Affects reproduction and respiratory health.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
– Highly contagious viral disease affecting growth and weight gain.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
– Causes respiratory issues, fever, and reduced feed intake.
Swine Influenza
– Includes worms, lice, and mites that affect pig health.
Parasites (Internal and External)
Disease Prevention Measures
- Vaccination
- Deworming
- Quarantine
- Sanitation
– Protects against common diseases like cholera and PRRS.
Vaccination
– Eliminates parasites that reduce growth efficiency.
Deworming
– Isolate new pigs for 2-4 weeks before introducing them to the herd.
Quarantine
– Regular cleaning and disinfection of pig pens and equipment.
Sanitation
Pig waste
is a by-product of swine farming, consisting of solid and liquid components. Pig waste is called manure when it includes undigested food and bedding material in its solid form.
The liquid fraction, commonly known as pig slurry,
contains urine and water used for cleaning. This waste is rich in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients, which can be beneficial if managed properly but harmful if not.
Effective Pig Manure Management Strategies
- Proper Waste Storage
- Composting
- Anaerobic Digestion
- Land Application
- Incineration
- is a treatment process in which bacteria break down organic matter in pig waste in the absence of oxygen. This process produces biogas, a renewable energy source, and digestate, a nutrient-rich by-product that can be used as fertilizer.
Anaerobic Digestion
- offers a bio secure solution to dispose of waste materials that cannot be reused. Specialized incinerators for agriculture safely burn solid manure and other high-moisture waste. Enclosed combustion minimizes air emissions, while heat destroys pathogens, drugs, pests, and weed seeds.
Incineration
Advantages of Swine Production
- High Profitability
- High Feed-to-Meat Conversion Efficiency
- High Reproductive Rate
- Less Space Requirement
- Multiple Product Opportunities
- Swine Manure Can Be Used as Fertilizer and Biogas
- Adaptability to Climate
- Farmers can sell live pigs, fresh pork, processed pork (sausages, ham, bacon), and manure (as fertilizer).
Multiple Product Opportunities
- Pigs grow quickly and can be sold within 4-6 months after birth.
- Pork has a high demand in local and international markets.
- Swine farming has a faster return on investment (ROI) compared to other livestock.
High Profitability
- Sows can give birth to 8-12 piglets per litter and can farrow 2 times per year.
- This rapid reproduction cycle increases farm income.
High Reproductive Rate
- Pigs do not require large grazing lands like cattle or sheep.
- Intensive farming methods allow high-density pig raising in small spaces.
Less Space Requirement
- Pig waste can be turned into organic fertilizer for crops.
- It can also be used for biogas production, reducing energy costs.
Swine Manure Can Be Used as Fertilizer and Biogas
- Some pig breeds adapt well to different climates, making them suitable for various environments.
- Pigs can be raised in backyard, semi-intensive, or intensive production systems.
Adaptability to Climate
Drawbacks of Swine Production
- High Initial Investment
- Disease Susceptibility
- High Feed Costs
- Waste Management Issues
- Price Fluctuations in the Market
- Requires Good Management Skills
- Biosecurity and Government Regulations
- Requires capital for housing, feeding, healthcare, and breeding stock.
- Intensive farming needs additional costs for biosecurity, ventilation, and automation systems.
High Initial Investment
- Pigs are prone to diseases like Hog Cholera, PRRS, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and Swine Influenza.
- Disease outbreaks can cause high mortality rates and major financial losses.
Disease Susceptibility
- Feed accounts for 60-70% of production costs.
- Rising feed prices can reduce farm profitability, making alternative feeds necessary.
High Feed Costs
- Large pig farms produce huge amounts of manure, which can cause environmental pollution if not managed properly.
- Uncontrolled waste disposal can lead to bad odor, water pollution, and legal issues.
Waste Management Issues
- Pork prices vary due to supply and demand, feed costs, and disease outbreaks.
- Farmers may suffer losses when prices drop or production costs increase.
Price Fluctuations in the Market
- Swine farming is not just about feeding pigs; it requires knowledge in breeding, disease control, and marketing.
- Poor management can lead to low productivity and financial losses.
Requires Good Management Skills
- Pig farms must follow strict biosecurity measures to prevent disease outbreaks.
- Some areas have regulations or restrictions on pig farming, especially near residential zones
Biosecurity and Government Regulations
involves the breeding, raising, and management of animals for food, fiber, and other by-products.
Animal production
- The term ‘poultry’ means
any live or slaughtered domesticated bird (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, or guineas),
Breeds of Swine
Different breeds are chosen based on their characteristics, such as
growth rate, meat quality, and reproductive performance.
the term ‘poultry product’ means
any poultry which has been slaughtered for human food, from which the blood, feathers, feet, head, and viscera have been removed in accordance with rules and regulations.
- Poultry farming is
the form of animal husbandry which raises domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese to produce meat or eggs for food.
Common Pig Breeds
- Yorkshire
- Duroc
- Landrace
- Berkshire
- Hampshire
- Raising chickens specifically for meat production.
- Focuses solely on raising chickens for meat. Broilers are typically fast-growing breeds, and the focus is on maximizing meat yield in the shortest possible time. Modern broiler farming often involves controlled environments to optimize growth.
Broiler Farming
- Rearing hens for egg production.
- This focuses on raising hens specifically for egg production. Layer hens are typically housed in specialized cages or barns, and their feed and environment are carefully managed to maximize egg output. Different breeds are selected for their high egg-laying capacity.
Layer farming
- Birds are allowed to roam freely, promoting natural growth and healthier products.
- Provides poultry with access to outdoor areas, allowing them to roam and exhibit more natural behaviors. This approach is often associated with improved animal welfare and potentially healthier products. “Organic” also entails specific requirements for feed and medication. Free-range and organic systems often have higher production costs due to land requirements and potentially slower growth rates.
Free-range or organic farming
Advantages of Poultry Production:
- High Profitability
- Low Initial Investment
- Rich Source of Protein
- Fast Growth & High Production
- Efficient Feed Conversion
- Sustainable & Environmentally Friendly
– Requires less capital and space compared to other livestock.
Low Initial Investment
– Poultry farming provides a quick return on investment.
High Profitability
– Chickens mature quickly and lay eggs regularly.
Fast Growth & High Production
– Poultry meat and eggs are nutritious and essential for a balanced diet.
Rich Source of Protein
– Produces organic manure and has a lower carbon footprint than cattle farming.
Sustainable & Environmentally Friendly
– Poultry efficiently turns feed into meat and eggs.
Efficient Feed Conversion
Disadvantages/Challenges in Poultry Production:
- Disease Susceptibility
- High Feed Costs
- Waste Management Issues
- Market Fluctuations
- Labor and Management Challenges
– Poultry farming requires a constant supply of high-quality feed, which is expensive and subject to price fluctuations.
High Feed Costs
– Poultry is highly vulnerable to diseases like bird flu, Newcastle disease, and salmonella, which can spread quickly and cause significant losses.
Disease Susceptibility
– Poultry product prices can be unstable due to changes in demand, seasonal variations, and market competition, affecting profitability.
Market Fluctuations
– Poultry farms generate large amounts of manure, feathers, and dead birds, leading to environmental pollution and odor problems if not properly managed.
Waste Management Issues
– Poultry farming requires constant supervision, disease control, and biosecurity measures, making it labor-intensive and requiring skilled management.
Labor and Management Challenges
