Pig Production

Question 1

Which country dominates pig industry?

Answer 1

China with 446m population of pigs

Question 2

What is the gross output of pigs in ireland

Answer 2

433 million euro / 10%

Question 3

When a sow has been serviced by a boar (only used 20%) or by AI (used 80% of the time), how long is gestation period?

Answer 3

114 days

Question 4

How long is the lactation period for the sows

Answer 4

28 days

Question 5

How long are piglets weaned for? weight?

How long are they finishing for? weight?

Answer 5

Weaned for a total of 8 weeks @ weight 7.5-20kg

Finished 10-12 weeks @ weight 20-110kg

Question 6

Disadvantage in group housing?

Answer 6

Composition always changing - causes aggression

Electronic feeder - sows not always feeding together. Pigs prefer to eat together because they’re social animals

Question 7

When a sow can no longer produce litters (parity, usually 5th/6th) what is the replacement called?

Answer 7

Gilts. They make up 20% of the breeding herd. A female on their first litter.

Question 8

What is the ideal gilt characteristics?

Answer 8

31-34 weeks of age, 135-150kg weight, 18mm fat, served on their 2nd/3rd heat after weaning

Question 9

How do you know when gilt/sow is in heat?

Answer 9

If a hand is placed down on their back they will stand in position and not move. They are then ready to service

Question 10

When is pregnancy scanning done?

Answer 10

28-35 days into gestation

Question 11

What are the signs of farrowing in a sow? what should be done then?

Answer 11

Restless, increase in mammary glands, milk let down. Nesting material should be provided which decreases birth interval, farrowing and still death

Question 12

When are piglets born exactly? What’s the average birthing interval?

Answer 12

3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days

10-15 minutes

Question 13

Requirements for new born piglets?

Answer 13

Dried off and have proper environments (usually come out cold and wet) , at least 250mls of colostrum is vital, protection from the sow

Question 14

What are the two different environments in the pig house?

Answer 14

Macro environment for the sow which only needs 16-18 degrees - cooling tube blows down on sow. Micro environment for piglets which needs to be at 34 degrees - heat pad used away from sow and heat lamp over the piglets.

Question 15

When are piglets most vulnerable to mortality and what are the causes?

Answer 15

52% occurs in the first 2 days - constant supervision needed

Starvation and crushing 80% of deaths

Question 16

What are hyper-prolific sows?

Answer 16

Reproduce a lot of piglets - more pigs than teats. A lot of top brands using these type of sows. Extra nutrition needed

Question 17

What is feeding the sow like during gestation-lactation?

Answer 17

Day 0-98 2.2kg/day
Day 98-112 food increases to 2.4-2.6kg/day
Lactation feed should be v. high (5/6kg) to maximise milk production. Shouldn’t lose more than 10% body weight

Question 18

How is BCS measured for pigs? what’s ideal?

Answer 18

BCS 1-5. Ideal number is 3/4

Question 19

Piglets are weaned at 28 days old. Certain conditions allow it under 28 days old, what are they?

Answer 19

-Health and welfare of sow/pigs affected
-Weaning into a house of all in all out basis
-Must NOT be weaned less than 21 days illegal
Target weight for weaning is 7kg at 4 weeks old
Piglet less than 5kg shouldn’t be weaned. Transfer to nursing sow for 7 days before weaning.

Question 20

What food are the piglets given in the weaning house?

Answer 20

Creep feed- highly palatable

Question 21

Diarrhoea is a main problem of weaning, what are the causes?

Answer 21

Loss of maternal antibodies, new environment, stress, possibly infectious (other pigs), food

Question 22

What environment should the finisher accommodation be?

Answer 22

Artificial light 9/10 hours a day, well ventilated, concrete pens, kept at 20-22 degrees Celsius

Question 23

What is a popular disease in finisher?

Answer 23

Porcine respiratory disease complex causes by different bacteria (streptococcus, Bordetella) or viruses (influenza, lungworm)

Question 24

What can avoid tail biting?

Answer 24

Enrichment - hanging toys to distract them