Swine Production Systems Flashcards
confinement systems first introduced
1950s
today majority of pigs in US raised in ____ systems
confinement
7 benefits of confinement systems
- small land requirement
- low labor
- protected from elements
- separate manure from pigs
- parasite control
- easy handling pigs
- increased gains (don’t burn as much energy)
3 challenges of confinement systems
- big investment
- negative social opinion
- controlling temp
range of environmental temperature over which the heat produced by animals remains fairly constant
thermoneutral zone
4 temperature control mechanisms
- misting (usually bellies)
- fans
- heat lamps/heater
- drip system cooler
2 things that happen when temp varies from thermoneutral zone
- loss of appetite
- poor reproductive performance
provides airflow and release of toxic gases
ventilation
2 methods of ventilation
- ventilation fans
- drop curtains
ventilation is measured in:
CFM (cubic feet per minute)
_____ pigs require _____ CFM than ____ pigs
heavier; greater; lighter
____ temps require higher CFM than ______ temps
warmer; cooler
3 flooring materials used in confinement systems
concrete slabs
plastic
plastic coated metal
concrete slabs in confinement used for what type of pigs
boar studs
breeding
gestation
finishing
plastic and plastic coated metal are used for ____ pigs
nursery
boar stud units are for:
collecting, extending, & shipping semen
young boars isolated and trained
there is high _____ for boar stud units
biosecurity
4 types of sow units
- breeding
- gestation
- farrowing
- lactation
what unit type has the worst reputation when it comes to animal welfare?
gestation (because kept in crates or pens)
how many sows are kept in a group during breeding and gestation
10-15
heat checks are preformed ____
daily (usually AM and PM)
sows are mainly bred via ____
AI
sows are kept in breeding/gestation unit until what day of pregnancy
109th
gestation length
114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)
before moving into farrowing unit sows are washed and ____
dewormed
weaning age
21 days
piglets remain in nursery until ___ lbs
40-60 lbs
farrow-to-finish operations are vertically integrated. true or false.
true
units in a farrow-to-finish
sow
nursery
finishing
-breeding to market weight
units in farrow-to-nursery
sow
nursery
-breeding to 40-60 lbs
units in farrow-to-wean
sow only
- breeding through 10-15 lbs
- contract buyers or maintain ownership
units in wean-to-finish
finishing only
-purchase 10-15 lbs to market weight
finishing farm sometimes referred to as:
“grow-to-finish”
units in finishing farm
purchase 40-60 lb to market weight
2 alternative production systems
pasture systems
deep bedded systems
why choose alternative production systems
- building size
- building costs decreased
- energy costs decreased
- environmental concern
- animal welfare concern
- niche markets
oldest type of swine operation in the US
pasture operations
types of pasture operations
- gestation and farrowing
- farrow to market
benefits to pasture operations
- lower initial and annual costs
- lower feed costs
- reduced risk of nutritional deficiencies (iron)
- less pig-to-pig contact
- flexibility
- reduced manure management
- less cannibalism
challenges of pasture systems
- more labor
- longer time to reach market weight
- environment (weather)
- parasite control
- maintaining ground cover (rooting)
most common type of pasture operation
gestation and farrowing
how many sows on a gestation and farrowing pasture operation
8-12 sows
6-8 sows with litter
farrow-to-market for pasture operations
- generally not practiced because of land requirement
- 15-30 weaning to 100 lb pigs
- 10-20 100 lb to market weight pigs
- slow growth rate
- poor feed efficiency
pasture production compared to confinement
____ weaning rates
____ pigs weaned/sow/year
____ feed efficiency
____ average daily gains
LOWER weaning rates
FEWER pigs weaned/sow/year
POORER feed efficiency
LOWER average daily gain
deep bedded systems usually used for
gestation and finishing pigs
benefits of deep bedded systems
- lower cost investment
- more control over environment
- lower energy costs
- multiple-use bedding
- solid manure
challenges of deep bedded systems
- lots of bedding needed
- parasites and flies
- treating and identifying sick
- difficult to cool barns
- increased fighting
how much bedding is needed for deep bedded in the summer
200 lb/pig
how much bedding is needed for deep bedding in the winter
350 lb/pig
bedding layer how many inches deep
14-18 in
types of bedding for deep bedding
straw cornstalks hay (low quality only) recycled paper rice hulls wood shavings sand
finishing bedded barns compared to confinement
- summer: grow ____ & ____ mortality
- winter: require ____ feed/lb of gain & ____ mortality
-summer:
grow FASTER
LOWER mortality
-winter:
require MORE feed/lb of gain
-HIGHER mortality
deep bedded overall: \_\_\_ backfat \_\_\_ loin eye area \_\_\_ lean product \_\_\_ weight variation at harvest consume \_\_\_ feed
MORE backfat SMALLER loin eye area LESS lean product GREATER weight variation at harvest consume MORE feed
bedded barns compared to confinement behavior: \_\_\_ fighting \_\_\_ aberrant behaviors \_\_\_ plasma cortisol levels \_\_\_ foot injuries
MORE fighting
LESS aberrant behaviors
LOWER plasma cortisol levels
FEWER foot injuries
deep bedded gestation use what for feeding
feeding stalls to maintain and record feed intake
true or false. sows moved indoor for farrowing and breeding in deep bedded systems
true (generally)
3 issues with gestation in hoop structures
- feeding systems
- introducing new gilts
- changes in sow groups
gestation bedded barns compared to confinement \_\_\_ feet and leg problems \_\_\_ culling \_\_\_ sow mortality \_\_\_ feed costs \_\_\_ reproductive performance
LESS feet and leg problems LESS culling LESS sow mortality LOWER feed costs EQUAL reproductive performance
how long are baby pigs kept in boxes with sows after farrowing (deep bedded)
7-10 days
true or false. After weaning sows are moved to another pin and babies are left behind, making it easier on the piglets.
true
major challenges facing confinement hog farmers
costs increasing consumer acceptance manure handling barn adaptability feed costs (corn and soybean increases)
challenges facing pasture hog farmers
changes in temp
parasites
lower weight gain
run-off
if confinement illegal, what would happen to swine industry?
less product
more expensive product
less pigs
