Swine Management

Question 1

Trends

Answer 1

increase in pork production
increase in litter survival rate
amount of farms w/ hogs decreasing, # of pigs per farm is increasing

Question 2

Chinese Swine Example

Answer 2

5 yr plan to increase the amount and efficiency of pork production in China (1 billion pigs per yr)
400 million pigs will not make it to production due to pre-weaning mortality rates (if one piglet could be saved –> millions invested in feed would be saved)

Question 3

Stages of Production

Answer 3

Breeding
Gestation
Farrowing/Lactation
Nursery
Growing/Finishing

Question 4

What drives production?

Answer 4

lower costs
increase pigs per sow per yr (increase litter size/farrowing/conception rate)
increase weight gain
improve feed efficiency
improve health

Question 5

Production Cycles

Answer 5

20-21 week schedule
20 groups of sows will be on a weekly cycle (one group farrows, another is weaned, another is bred)
the shorter lactation length in pigs results in more litters per sow per year

Question 6

Operation Types

Answer 6

Nursery
Farrow-to-Wean
Farrow-to-Feeder
Farrow-to-Finish
Finishing

Question 7

What are most CA Pig Production Systems?

Answer 7

Farrow-to-Finish

Question 8

What is the trend between weight (lbs.) and ADG (lbs./day)

Answer 8

As pigs increase in weight their ADG increases as well
(it takes about 115 days for a 40lb pig to reach 220lbs)

Question 9

What are the characteristics of Finishing Pig Production?

Answer 9

simpler system (less death and loss)
high capital investment in feed and feeder pigs
lower investment in buildings and equipment
less labor required
higher risk due to market fluctuations

Question 10

What are the characteristics of Indoor Production Systems?

Answer 10

Flooring –> solid (w/ or w/out bedding) or partial/total slats
Ventilation –> open front, curtain sided, mechanically ventilated

Question 11

What are the characteristics of an Outdoor Production System?

Answer 11

Contains a central hub and pastures radiating out
Usage of dry sow huts or farrowing huts

Question 12

Thermal Environment and Ventilation

Answer 12

Winter ventilation –> removal animal moisture and gases
Summer ventilation –> remove heat, gases, and water vapor
Pig behavior: hot pigs spread out, cold pigs huddle

Question 13

How does noise affect pig behavior?

Answer 13

loud and sudden noises can startle pigs
introducing pigs to radio and reduce startling pigs
excessive noise can interfere with nursing behavior

Question 14

What does sanitation improve?

Answer 14

Air quality
Microbial numbers
Pig health

Question 15

What are some standard swine agricultural practices?

Answer 15

Castration
Clipping needle teeth
Ear notching, tattoo, or tagging
Tail docking Hoof trimming

Question 16

What are the standard piglet procedures?

Answer 16

Day 1-3: clip needle teeth and tails, castrate, ear notch, iron injections
Day 7-10: starter diets available
2-6 weeks: iron dextran injections (Fe supplements)

Question 17

What are some commonly used restraint tools?

Answer 17

Board
Flags
Rattle paddle
Snare
Electric prod

Question 18

What are some methods to treat diseases?

Answer 18

Isolation
Individual animal treatments
Water or feed medications

Question 19

How do we administrate compounds?

Answer 19

Subcutaneous (SC)
Intramuscular (IM)
Intravenous (IV)
Intraperitoneal (IP)

Question 20

How can we minimize Human and Pig Health risks?

Answer 20

Having healthy immune systems allows humans to be at low risk for obtaining zoonotic diseases
Appropriate pen sanitation (all-in-all-out systems, personal hygiene)
Never eat, drink, or smoke near the animals
Proper PPE