To start your own PIG FARM here are some details about PIG Farming which are really helpful for the armatures and may help to existing farmers also.
Pig Breeding and Farming
There
are a variety of production systems that are used in industry today. There is
no one ideal system in which the facility alone can meet all of the needs of
the animal. The single most important factor in addressing the welfare of
animals is the husbandry skills of the producer.
In
an intensive system, pigs are usually housed through their growth and reproductive
stages indoors in specialized sheds. A shed housing pregnant sows is called a
dry sow shed. Sometimes, dry sows may also be kept outdoors, but this is only
possible in a limited number of situations where the climate is mild and soils
are free draining. When she is ready to give birth to her piglets, the pregnant
sow is then moved to a special birthing or “farrowing” area. Weaner pigs
(weaned piglets) are kept in a weaning shed and finisher pigs are housed in a
finishing shed. Most Indian PIG farmers raise their pigs through the whole
process in “farrow to finish” operations.
To
achieve high health status of any PIG farms access of people and animals on to
pig farms must be restricted to ensure that animals are kept healthy. These
restrictions are known as “biosecurity” precautions.
Gestation
Young, unbred female pigs are called gilts. Gilt is usually eight
months old before she is mature enough for breeding. They are normally housed
in groups of three to 25 pigs per pen in the breeding area. Gilts are called
sows once they give birth.
Male
pigs, or boars used for breeding, are penned individually, so they don’t fight
with each other. Pigs are very social animals and sows are kept either in
groups or individually in close contact with their neighbours. They do have a
strong social hierarchy and sometimes fight amongst themselves to establish who
is dominant or subordinate in a group situation.
When
gilts or sows enter oestrus in their reproductive cycles (about 21 days long)
they are ready to be bred. Farmers oversee breeding to ensure the sow is
receptive and successfully bred.
Sometimes,
producers are using artificial insemination (A.I.), which is gentle on the
sows, eliminates disease risk and can produce excellent pregnancy results.
Larger farms may rely exclusively on A.I. in their breeding programs. Piggery
managers keep records of sow and boar performance in a book or computer.
Farrowing
Sows
are moved in groups to farrowing sheds approximately one week prior to giving
birth. A farrowing stall allows the sow about the same movements as a gestation
stall, but provides creep areas along either side for the piglets. Adjustable
rails alongside the sow slow her movement when she lays down, thus protecting
piglets from being crushed.
Once
the sow begins to farrow, the whole litter is born within 2 to 5 hours. The
farmer keeps a close record of when piglets are born. Very shortly after birth,
piglets will nurse. A heat lamp or pad and a warm farrowing room temperature
ensures piglet comfort.
Piglets
Piglets
are moved from the farrowing rooms at a weaning age which can be anywhere from 50-60
days depending on the producer’s system and Piglets health.
Growers / Finishers
Weaned
and growing pigs are usually group-housed in pens of 5 to 20 pigs per pen. In
well ventilated sheds, pigs will instinctively select clean and dry areas for
sleeping, resting and feeding. Pigs are very clean animals and choose to
defecate in an area separate to their feeding area.
Transport
When
pigs are market weight —from 45kg to 110kg — they are loaded onto
well-ventilated trucks with appropriate bedding for transport to market. The
number of pigs in the load is carefully calculated taking into consideration
truck size, travel distance, temperature and pig comfort factors.
Best Regards
Chandra S Kashyap
"Silverweed Piggery Farms"
