Production systems 8 - 11 Flashcards
what is important for profitability on a pig farm and what day weight is the most important
- starts with consistent numbers produced each week and good milking sows producing heavy pigs at weaning.
○ These grow fast all the way to sale - Weight of pig at weaning most important for growth at 21 days - determined by weight of pig at birth
what is the piglet mortality after birth and what used to reduce this
first 3 days 80% die from being squished by mum
- use sliders which provide shelter for piglets and sow stall to prevent movement
in an average intensive herd in Australia and PNG what is average piglets weaned and piglets born alive in australia vs france
Australia - 10.5
PNG - 8
Australia - 11
France - 14
what is the lactation length (weaning length) of the pigs and what occurs with increasing length
21-28 d
- longer increase weaning weight also have more piglets next farrowing
what is the gestation length of pigs and and how long after weaning before pig goes back on heat
Gestation: 115 d - 3months, 3 weeks, 3 days
Weaning to service: ~6 d
- On heat within 7 days of weaning
what is the main way to test if pig on heat and what used to get pig pregnant
Back pressure test - once apply pressure pig should become rigid if in heat
- Yellow bands apply the pressure
AI - artificial insemination
Uteru contraction will suck up the semen from the cervix into uterus
how is profit calculated with pigs and what is the average FEC
Profit = fast growing pigs (reduce cost of further feed) + efficient conversion of grain + heavy pigs + <13mm fat (P2 position - end of the last rib, relationship between fat there and carcass lean - penalized for high levels of fat)
FEC - about 2.3
List 6 ways to increase profit gains on a pig farm
1) Start with the highest health status possible
2) Implement biosecurity practices
3) Vaccinate against key endemic disease - can raise animals free of diseases
4) Appropriate medications
5) High hygiene standards - animals ethics and production
6) Good air quality
List and describe 5 management issues in piggeries that can decrease production
1) Stocking rate, air quality, hygiene
2) Feeder space
3) Over mating and age at weaning - if too many pregnant then would have to wean pigs earlier - post weaning mortality rate increases
4) High turnover rates in sow herds - gilts don’t produce as much colostrum so increase mortality of the piglets therefore if have high turnover more gilts less mature pigs so increase mortality rate
5) Inspection and observation - if compromised (lameness) then more likely to fall onto and kill pigs
what are the main breeds selected for gilts and why
- Crossbred large white, landrace, duroc breeds
- Large white cross landarce - high maternal capacity
Selected for - Feed efficiency
- Growth rate
- Carcase composition
- Litter size in maternal lines
what is comparison between indoor and outdoor production
Indoor production
– High reproductive and growing pig feed efficiency
- Perceived lower welfare standards - all about the management and treatment of the animals
Outdoor
- High operation costs - more sow, weaner feed, large amount of straw,
- Lower profit but because capital costs are a lot lower (about 50%) than indoor
- Summer temperature significantly decrease reproductive efficiency
○ Pigs are seasonal breeders
outdoor system how are some arranged
1) some destroy the vegetation so arranged in gestation paddocks
2) houses within the paddock contain one sow and piglets
When are gilts selected, when exposed to boar, when mated and how what percentage of the herd should be gilts
- Selected at 20 wks.
- Exposed to boar from about 160 days, mated on second heat at 30 wk and 125 Kg.
- Need about 8% of the herd in the gilt pool at any one time.
how are sows grouped and what is one way to house and feed a sow
1) Feed intake - cant supply at immediate needs
2) Bullying
3) Performance
- Feed can be allocated to the sow on recognition of her transponder (on the ear) and predetermined feed levels
what are the 2 main ways weaners are stored and characteristics
1) On straw
- Lower cost
- More room for the pigs to move
2) Fully intensive
- Better efficiency and easier to manage
- A lot more capital expenses
Differences between Deep Litter (DL) and conventional
DL
1) feed efficiency isn’t as good as conventional
2) individualised care is harder in DL
3) lower cost however cannot manage temperature
4) grow better but higher cost
Welfare perceptive both systems relatively the same
grower pigs outdoor system characteristics
- Not many reared outside - sows can be reared outside but then back inside
- Feed efficiency 20% lower than indoor system
- Sometimes present complex environmental problems
○ Severe parasite infections
○ If not managed then major erosion problems
castration of pigs where does it occur, alternatives and when given
○ North America and Europe heavier - also castrate so don’t have problems with boar taint
○ Vaccine need a booster, blocks gonadotrophic releasing hormones (hypothalamus) - direct effect release of LSH - to decrease boar taint - mediated by the immune system
○ Given generally at 15 weeks
○ Some are castrated to stop this however not widely done in Australia - welfare perspective
grower pigs in indoor systems death rate, weight and week sold, how much eat per day, FCR, what age start
- Deaths 0.5%
- 22-24 weeks = 90-100 kg live weight
- Eat: 2.3 kg/d
- FCR: 2.30
porker pigs - 16 weeks
what are the trends in the pig industry
1) number of pig producers decreasing
2) pork production increasing so herd sizes are getting larger
characteristics of the pig industry in developing countries
1) villages often own small number of pigs - production efficiency often poor
2) as wealth grows people eat more animal protein
3) women generlaly look after the pigs to get extra income
4) more efficient and cost effective production of pigs occurs in facilities close to grain or markets
5) countries with high health status able to export more easily
What is the problem with food supply for pigs in developing countries and what is a way to overcome this
- People and pigs compete for the same foods and protein is in short supply - generally malnourished
- In PNG making silage from sweet potato and adding protein premix
- data shows grow nearly as well as proper commercial diets
what are the 4 issues with disease control in developing countries
1) vaccine delivery program - may have to walk 8 hours to collect vaccination
2) cold chain control
3) vaccination logistics
4) village cooperation - politics, culture, attitudes, all about the village levels
what is the most valuable cut of pig for Australia and North America
- In North America the loin is the most valuable cut
- In Australia the leg (ham on the bone) is a valuable cut