In order to breed pigs, the breeder needs to familiarize himself with the basic rules for caring for animals. There are special requirements for diet, conditions of detention, etc., depending on the type of pig, their age and other nuances.
Pig breeding technology
In the world they use various technologies and methods for raising pigs. Their features consist in an individual approach to the maintenance, feeding and grooming, depending on the final goal. Each of the systems is adapted to a specific situation, taking into account climatic and technological features of the production conditions.
Danish technology
The main specificity is a completely different approach to the structure of the pigsty. It is assumed that the animals will be kept on slotted shelves, which include a self-alloy system for cleaning manure in concrete baths.
In the room, machines are installed in which they contain pregnant queens, as well as genital machines. Heating is achieved through the use of infrared lamps and electric heating panels. The limit is no more than 30 pigs in one machine.
Danish technology uses equipment that prepares and delivers feed. There is a special computerized ventilation system with which to control the temperature regime.
TO the benefits This technology includes:
- Relevance for all age-old groups of animals.
- It is used for keeping pigs, boars and sows.
- Automation of the process of growing, feeding feed and water to drinking bowls, a mechanical system of manure removal.
- The risk of stress for pigs is minimized, there is no possibility of hassles.
- Reduced financial maintenance costs.
- A consultant or veterinarian visits the complex at least 1 time per month.
Disadvantage technology is that it is suitable exclusively for large enterprises, otherwise the funds spent on equipment will not pay off.
In this video, an experienced breeder gives advice on which breed to choose, how to raise pigs, on timely vaccinations and feeding, as well as on keeping pets according to the rules of Danish technology:
Canadian technology
The basis is the division of animals into groups. They are kept on a deep, non-removable litter; they do not limit access to the consumption of dry food and clean water. For bedding, dry straw or sawdust is most often used. The first layer of 20 cm should always remain dry. As it becomes wet, pour fresh.
When the lower layer begins to rot, maximum heat transfer occurs, respectively, the cost of using heat is significantly reduced. The litter calculation is considered to be approximately 1 kg per pig per day.
Canadian technology is used for keeping pigs, single and pregnant sows, boars. The main the benefits are fast construction and minimum payback periods. Great for small farms. Of disadvantages emphasize that it is strictly forbidden to allow drafts in the room, which are difficult to deal with in this case.
Biphasic technology
This method of keeping pigs provides for a nest-group method of growing piglets, which is oriented towards maximum stress reduction. In practice, the method gives a good economic effect, and production increases by about 12-15%.
The main the benefits Two-phase technology are such moments:
- At the first stage, after the birth of small piglets, they are kept in the same machines for about 90-120 days.
- The second step is to transfer them to a pigsty for fattening, while the sows remain in another room.
It should be noted that during the transfer of piglets to the fattener, they can be rearranged.
As such disadvantages, this method does not have. It is only necessary to consistently carry out the indicated phases.
Feeding
Those who deal with pigs know that these animals have a single-chamber stomach, therefore it is a little more difficult for them than other cattle to digest feeds that contain fiber. Therefore, we need to approach the question of exactly what to feed pigs wisely.
From what you feed the pigs, not only their health will depend, but also the weight gain. Allocate such types of feed:
- Traditional wet food. It includes mixed food waste, boiled potatoes, vegetables, various crops and herbs. The disadvantage is the time required to prepare the feed.
- Dry feed. This includes crushed grain mixtures, which often include pea flour, vitamins and mineral supplements.
When using dry food, be sure to leave plenty of water for the animals. Otherwise, constipation and weight loss begin.
Pigs are usually fed twice a day, morning and evening. In any case, it depends on the breeding method chosen and the amount of production.
Helpful hints:
- It is best to give grains in the crushed form - so they are digested faster in the body, because pigs hardly chew them, and the product comes out with feces.
- Potatoes are given only in boiled form, be sure to rinse off the ground before that. It is not recommended to give water from cooked potatoes.
- As vitamins, you can add a small amount of fresh root crops.
- Count on feed at one time. Everything that the animal has not eaten cannot be used for the next time.
Place of pigs
Their health and breeding directly depend on the place where you plan to keep pigs. To achieve the most positive results, it is necessary to provide good conditions and take into account all technological aspects.
Air temperature
In the pigsty, air temperature and microclimate play an important role. It is these factors that strongly influence the growth and development of animals.
Be careful, because in cases of excessive stuffiness, pigs may overheat the body, which, in turn, will reduce appetite and provoke weight loss. At cold temperatures, pigs will spend their energy reserve on self-heating, and consume many times more food.
Please note that drafts, humidity and low-quality bedding will increase the chances of getting sick, and this will lead to reduced productivity.
Air humidity
To maintain a normal microclimate, it is best to have an automatic ventilation system, due to which the number of bacteria and dust content in the room will decrease.
Humidity can be reduced with quicklime (6-10%). In addition, it is necessary to carry out regular cleaning of machines, remove manure and not over-moisten the flooring.
Water availability
If the production is large enough, be sure to take care of automatic drinkers. Farmers use nipple or cup drinkers, depending on the age of the animals.
Remember that access to water should be around the clock, and the water itself is clean, free from odors and impurities. If suddenly the pigs do not have enough fluid, their appetite and digestibility of food will sharply decrease.
The optimum water temperature is from 12 to 15 degrees. In the summertime, increase the amount of fluid by approximately 25%.
Walking area
On pig farms, where the purity and quality of the breed are controlled, a walking platform is often used. It happens:
- walking - let out for a walk strictly on schedule;
- free-play - animals can walk at any time.
It is best to place such a platform on the south side of the structure. Make the surface hard, and be sure to enclose the area with a reliable fence. Often drinkers and feeders with food are placed on the fences, but strictly half an hour after feeding the pigs, they are driven back to maintain cleanliness on the farm.
Lighting
Thanks to competent lighting, the farmer can increase production up to 20%. The absence or lack of light affects sexual desire and growth.
Depending on the purpose, special lighting is selected. For example, bright light will be required for active breeding, and vice versa for feeding babies and keeping piglets.
In production, you can use both natural and piece lighting, which can be technological and on-duty. Since there are different types of lighting areas, it is recommended to choose the power:
- 50 Lx - for a fattening livestock;
- 75 Lx - for boars, pregnant queens, weaners and young animals;
- 150 Lx - for the lactating uterus;
- 250 Lx - for the insemination process.
It is best to place lamps above the heads of animals and choose the LED option. It is closer to natural light than incandescent lamps, and better affects the general condition of animals.
Manure disposal systems
In animal husbandry, the most time-consuming and unpleasant process is the removal of manure. As pigs grow fast enough, the amount of waste increases every day. Within a small farm, cleaning can be done independently by hand, but this is practically impossible to do on medium and large-scale plants.
The following cleaning systems are available:
- The mechanical system. Provides for the presence of manure channels in the area where the feeders are located. Since the floor there is at an angle, all urine and other fluid drains into the canals, and the manure is raked on its own or with a drain.
- Hydraulic system. In this embodiment, water pipes are laid along the entire length of the channels. During sanitary cleaning, water is supplied through them, which flushes everything into the sumps (they assume the role of a storage). Further, this manure is divided into a liquid phase, which is watered by the fields, and thick - used as fertilizer.
- Slit floor removal system. Here urine and feces accumulate through cracks in the second floor level. They fall into special baths that are cleaned with water. Then they bring out everything that has gathered there, along the channel towards the sump.
Pigsty requirements
There is an unwritten series of requirements for a pigsty, fulfilling which you can keep animals in comfortable conditions:
- In the room where the pigs are located, it is necessary to make a window or a window for ventilation. It is advisable to insulate it with polyethylene in the cold season.
- The doors to the room should be tightly closed. Animals are very sensitive to drafts and hypothermia.
- It is advisable to make the floor concrete or wood. It is recommended to additionally insulate it.
- For the construction of a farm, it is best to choose a slightly elevated dry area with a protected terrain.
- The optimal neighborhood would be buildings located no closer than 150-200 meters from the pigsty. The pigsty should not be closer than 200-300 meters to the highways.
- It is strictly forbidden to build such plants on previously buried territories or on the site of former wool processing enterprises.
- Do not forget about fire safety measures. Use fire resistant materials in construction.
Diseases
If not properly maintained, the pig may become ill. Signs of the onset of the disease are determined by the following criteria:
- interest in food disappears;
- rapid breathing;
- in white breeds of pigs, the skin changes color and becomes slightly pinkish;
- diarrhea appears, sometimes with blood clots;
- ears are down, eyes are dull, tail is limp;
- the pig tries to stay away from the rest, looks lethargic.
If you notice strange animal behavior, contact your veterinarian immediately. Do not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment.
What can pigs hurt?
All diseases can be divided into the following groups:
- Infectious. The most common non-communicable diseases include:
- Diarrhea - occurs through indigestion and unsatisfied feeding standards. Less commonly, diarrhea appears due to pathologies of any organs.
- Bloating - arises through overeating or poor-quality food. Characteristic features are refusal of feed and an increase in the abdominal cavity.
- Constipation - like diarrhea, occurs through poor eating or overeating. It is also a symptom of other diseases, but then, often, it is accompanied by the appearance of temperature and general weakness.
- Infectious diseases. These include:
- Plague Is a viral disease that can be transmitted through litter or feed. Then digestive problems and cramps begin.
- Pasteurellosis. The causative agent is a special bacterium that appears due to unsanitary conditions. Since mortality from this disease is high, animals are recommended to be vaccinated.
- Diseases through parasitesthat can be both external and internal:
- Worms - The most dangerous threat to pig farming. Veterinarians isolate more than 30 varieties of worms that mainly affect intestinal function. The most common roundworms or tapeworms.
- Scabies - caused by small ticks that provoke irritation and itching. Such damage to the skin leads to its exfoliation and hyperkeratosis.
- Lice - insects that also cause irritation and parasitize on livestock. Most often they hide in the folds of the skin, between the legs and behind the ears.
- Miases - the disease is caused by flies that lay their eggs in animal wounds.
Other diseases that cattle can get are flu, pneumonia, salmonellosis, mastitis, prolapse of the uterus, leptospirosis, etc. Read more about pig diseases here.
Disease prevention
There are precautions for the prevention of diseases:
- First of all, do not allow sharp fluctuations in room temperature and unsanitary conditions.
- To prevent diseases such as gastroenteritis, gastritis, etc., do not give animals spoiled, sour, salty or frozen food, which will certainly interfere with the normal functioning of the body.
- To prevent hypovitaminosis, pigs are given vitamin fodder and sometimes injections with a solution of vitamins A, D, E.
- To prevent anemia, piglets are given ferroglukin, iron glycerophosphate, and microelement solutions that include cobalt chloride, copper sulfate, and ferrous sulfate.
- Prevention of rickets is carried out by the method of monitoring food quality, improving sanitary control, except for excess acid feed.
- To combat seasonal diseases, ultraviolet is used in the summer, and infrared radiation in the winter using artificial sources.
- To prevent the appearance of flies, a strict sanitary regime with regular disinsection of premises is observed.
- It is recommended that the exterior of the wall be treated with a 3% hexachloran emulsion. After the procedure, animals are brought back to the premises no earlier than 3 hours after disinfestation and ventilation.
- Take measures to prevent rodents, weeds and debris. To exterminate unwanted rodents, the preparations Zookumarin, Penokumarin, Rat and other similar poisons are used.
Lay the lures out of the reach of other animals.
Features winter content
In the summer, pigs can safely walk and move around within the farm or production. But in the winter they need special conditions. In principle, these animals tolerate cold quite well, so at a temperature of 8-10 degrees they will be comfortable.
Among the other nuances that need to be addressed are:
- Air humidity indicator.In the cold period, it should be no more than 75-80%.
- All windows and cracks from where it can penetrate must be closed. In areas with particularly harsh winters, lining should consist of additional insulation in the form of straw, sawdust or moss.
- The litter in the form of hay has proven itself well. Pigs really like to dig in there. So they are warm, and the financial side is not so expensive.
- Use the heater only in special cases if the sow is pregnant or has already given birth to piglets. In all other situations, this is an expensive pleasure, moreover, unsafe, considering how easily the straw that is in the room can catch fire.
- In winter, do not rule out walks. In favorable sunny weather, you can let the pigs frolic a little and breathe fresh air.
- Feeding in the winter also has its own specifics. The main requirements are the constant availability of warm drinking water and a varied diet with minerals and nutrients. It is good if the menu includes fish and meat wastes, high-quality meadow hay, fruits and vegetables. Sometimes they put a bowl of salt so that the pig can consume it if her body wants it.
Breeding
Farrowing is an important and difficult process for both the animal and the pig farmer. Here it is necessary to provide for many details so that the offspring are born healthy and can pay back all physical, financial and moral labor.
Sow care
The main requirements for sow care are:
- When the pig is still young, and its growth has not been completed, be sure to give her all the necessary nutrients that will help her and her babies grow. In this case, a large amount of protein feed will be required. Approximately 60% of the feed should consist of succulent food, namely:
- all kinds of root crops (carrots, potatoes, beets);
- cereal crops (barley, corn);
- legumes and cake.
- At the last stages of pregnancy, the diet should consist of easily digestible carbohydrates and proteins, which do not create an extra load on the body. At the last stage, the fetal weight is finally formed, therefore, quality care at this time is especially important. You can use compound feed, which includes:
- wholemeal flour;
- meal and bran;
- silage and feed yeast.
You can read more about the proper nutrition of a pig during gestation here.
- The gestation period is from 108 to 114 days. Before giving birth, prepare a separate room for piglets and sows.
- When farrowing occurred in an adult pig, she will need food that will help maintain her weight and ensure the normal development of the babies, as well as their weight gain. Additionally, you can give vitamin-mineral complexes and additives (salt and chalk).
- Feed the sow three times a day. It is not worth increasing the amount of food so that the pig does not become obese, because this will negatively affect the offspring.
Baby Pig Care
For the health of newborns, you need to start feeding them colostrum as soon as possible. Basically, instinct immediately wakes up in piglets as soon as you attach them to the sipple's nipples.
In some cases, this may not happen, for example, if:
- the sow is aggressive and refuses to feed piglets;
- no milk and colostrum;
- the sow died during childbirth.
You can solve the problem with a lack of milk in the following ways:
- If there is another sow with farrowing, you can plant piglets there. Just keep in mind that they should be no more than 3 days old, otherwise the sow will most likely not accept babies.
- As an option, freeze milk from another pig and feed the babies to them.
- If there is no other sow and milk from it, they are fed with ordinary cow's milk or a substitute for artificial feeding. The main thing here is to ensure that piglets do not start diarrhea.
7 Tips for Newbie Pig Breeders
Here are some tips for those who want to get a pigsty:
- First, determine the amount of living creatures and the option of building pigsties. Choose a place and design a plan.
- Take care of systems with which the desired room temperature will be maintained.
- Build feeders, give food 3 to 5 times a day, depending on the age of the pigs.
- After each feeding, remove food that remains. Thoroughly clean the feeders once a week.
- Once a month, it is necessary to disinfect the room.
- Provide areas for walking animals. Walking in the fresh air pigs will be healthier.
- In case of any symptoms of ailments, consult a veterinarian immediately.
From this video you can learn how to properly organize a farm and raise pigs:
Pig farming is not a difficult task, but you should still adhere to the basic requirements for caring for pigs. The health and pet divorce will depend on this, and in the future, your financial compensation.