PIG FARMING: Some Details

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"