C8: Technology of swine production (modern, large unit, traditional, alternative) Flashcards
what does the technology of pig production depend on?
it depends on the state of the pig
what units are found on a pig farm?
Breeding unit:
◦ Sows waiting for insemination
◦ Pregnant
◦ Farrowing, suckling, weaning
- Fattening unit:
◦ Pig fattening & Slaughter
what stations are found on a pig farm
- Artificial Insemination
- Test stations
- Slaughterhouse
what is the flow chart of large scale pig production?
see camera roll
where are boars usually kept?
Kept at the wall in individuals’ boxes (can be 2)
* With a small ‘garden’, short life. Collecting semen many times a week (AI)
how to detect if a sow is in heat?
- Kept in narrow/individual boxes, can be facing the boars. An boar is walked behind them to find the sow in heat.
- riding test: Pressure on loin → acceptance → breeding (catheter: AI, time consuming).
if sows are pregnant where are they usually kept?
Communal Laying Area!
* Pregnant sows, slightly bedded, with feeding boxes (individual).
* If the sow is pregnant → NOT ALLOWED TO BE TIED UP (114 days), free stables. Open housing can also be seen.
what is automated sorting?
Microchip, can be sorted by automated systems
what houses can be found on a pig farm?
farrowing house
weaner house
fattening house
service house
dry sow house
what happens in the farrowing house?
function, temp, parts.
● This is the house where the bonhams are born.
● Pregnant sows are moved here one week before farrowing ( giving birth).
● Sows are placed in farrowing crates which holds the sow in place restricting much movement. It’s role is to protect the newborn bonhams.
● It allows the bonhams to access the mother’s milk without getting crushed by the large sow when it lies down - up to 16 bonhams in a surrounding area.
● Optimum temperature is 20C degrees. House is slatted to allow waste removal.
● The creep area is an area in the farrowing crate that only the bonhams can access. It has a higher temperature of 30C degrees - using infra red lamps or heated pads to keep bonhams warm (can lose heat easily).
● Creep ration feed and fresh water is available to the bonhams in the creep area whilst they can suckle the mother also.
● After the bonhams are weaned (approx 28-35 days) they are moved to the weaner house whilst the sow is moved back to the service house.
what is the weanling house?
function
temp
feed
● Bonhams are weaned from the mother at 4 weeks old - no more milk.
● They are first kept in the weaner house @ 30C degrees which is gradually decreased to 24C degrees. They are fed a high energy ration.
● Kept here until they are 8 weeks old ( 14-15kg)
● The second stage in the weaner house is at a constant 24C degrees, with the pigs being fed a gradually lower energy ration feed.
● Pigs are batched according to size.
● They stay in the weaner house until 12 weeks old (32kg approx)
what is the fattening house?
function
temp
● A number of gilts will be selected as replacements for old/infertile/sick breeding sows to keep the breeding cycle of the farm in check.
● Most however go to the fattening house which is the terminal phase of the cycle for these pigs.
● The temperature is reduced to 22C degrees in this house, fatteners are batched according to size.
● Remain here until 26 weeks old and approx 90-100kg - sent to slaughterhouse.
what is the service house?
● Sows are returned immediately to the breeding house to be re-serviced after the bonhams have been weaned.
● The sow usually comes back into oestrous 7 days after weaning and can be serviced by the boar or by A.I.
● Boars are kept in neighbouring pens here to stimulate the sow’s oestrous cycle through sight, sound and smell (pheromones). Boars are also used to detect sows for A.I.
● Sows are inseminated twice (once on each day of heat).
what is a dry sow house?
● Pregnant sows are kept in the dry house during gestation.
● The term dry sow is due to no milk production @ this time.
● Her energy intake is used for the growth and development of the bonhams during pregnancy.
● 20’C in the dry house, sows are kept in individual pens.
● Sows are washed, deloused and vaccinated for erysipelas (Blue Ear) before being moved to the farrowing house.
● Moved to farrowing house a week before farrowing.
what is an alternative form of pig famring?
free-range method.
- Advantage of outdoor farming systems: Animal friendly – animals can express natural behavior.
- Disadvantages:
◦ Usually less economically productive
◦ Environmental impacts
◦ Increased incidence of worms or parasites
◦ Successful management depends for outdoor agricultural methods → sunburn, heat stress
