Pig Production & Welfare

Basic Facts (What - Name - Housing) Birth - [blank_start]Piglet[blank_end] - [blank_start]Farrowing Area[blank_end] Weaning - [blank_start]Weaner[blank_end] - [blank_start]Weaner Deck[blank_end] Transfer - [blank_start]Grower/Finisher[blank_end] - [blank_start]Growing Shed[blank_end] Slaughter - [blank_start]Baconer/Porker[blank_end] - Growing Shed Breeding Selection - [blank_start]Gilt[blank_end] - [blank_start]Gilt Ranges[blank_end] Lactaion - [blank_start]Sow[blank_end] - Farrowing Area Weaning - Sow - [blank_start]Mating Area[blank_end]

Efficiency Feed to Meat Ratio - [blank_start]How many kg of feed = 1 kg of carcass?[blank_end] = Total [blank_start]Feed Used / Total Carcass Weight Sold[blank_end] Feed to Meat Price Ratio - [blank_start]How much profit is made?[blank_end] = [blank_start]$/kg Carcass / $/kg Feed[blank_end]

Factors Affecting Profitability 1. [blank_start]Cost of Feed[blank_end] 2. [blank_start]Price Schedule[blank_end] 3. [blank_start]Reproduction Performance[blank_end] 4. [blank_start]Growth Performance[blank_end]

Pig Breeds used to produce slaughter generation: [blank_start]Large White[blank_end] [blank_start]Landrace[blank_end] [blank_start]Duroc[blank_end] [blank_start]Hampshire[blank_end] [blank_start]Pietrain[blank_end]

Weekly Events Farrowing - [blank_start]Weds, Thurs, Fri[blank_end] Weaning - [blank_start]Thurs[blank_end] Mating - [blank_start]Mon/Tues/Weds[blank_end] Abbatoir - [blank_start]Tues[blank_end]

Sow Reproduction Puberty @ [blank_start]6 months[blank_end] Oestrus cycle = [blank_start]21 days[blank_end] Mated [blank_start]2-3x per year[blank_end] Gestation = [blank_start]3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days[blank_end] Lactation = [blank_start]28 days[blank_end] Weaning to Mating again = [blank_start]7 days[blank_end] Piglets per litter = [blank_start]10-14[blank_end] Mortality before weaning = [blank_start]10%[blank_end] Mortality after weaning = [blank_start]3%[blank_end]

Boar Reproduction Effect on [blank_start]oestrus[blank_end] in sows and gilts Services per week = [blank_start]2-3[blank_end] Natural mating = [blank_start]1 Boar to 15-20 Sows[blank_end] Artificial Insemination = [blank_start]1 Boar to 45-60 Sows[blank_end]

Farrowing Systems Domestic Sows produce [blank_start]large[blank_end] litters System Achievements: Decrease [blank_start]pre-weaning mortality[blank_end] High [blank_start]levels of hygiene to prevent disease[blank_end] Easier [blank_start]piglet management[blank_end] Separation of [blank_start]Sows during lactation[blank_end] Safe and easy [blank_start]access by staff[blank_end] Cant be in crate... [blank_start]>5 days[blank_end] before farrowing [blank_start]>4 weeks[blank_end] for lactation [blank_start]Without material that can be manipulated[blank_end]

Mortality Adaption Problem: Piglets transitioned from a [blank_start]protected, controlled, intra-uterine[blank_end] environment to [blank_start]unpredictable external environment[blank_end] Approx. [blank_start]70%[blank_end] of mortality occurs in the first [blank_start]3 days[blank_end] - [blank_start]Asphyxiation at birth[blank_end] - must overcome [blank_start]respiratory, immunological, digestive,[blank_end] [blank_start]nutritional and thermoregulatory[blank_end] challenges [blank_start]12%[blank_end] mortality indoor with crates - [blank_start]18%[blank_end] outdoors Main causes: - [blank_start]stillbirth/poor viability[blank_end] - [blank_start]starvation[blank_end] - [blank_start]accidental crushing[blank_end] Piglet deficiencies - low [blank_start]energy reserves[blank_end] - immature [blank_start]immune system[blank_end] - limited [blank_start]ability to conserve heat[blank_end]

High and Low Viability Survival Characteristics High: - [blank_start]heavier @ birth >1kg[blank_end] - born [blank_start]earlier in litter[blank_end] - higher [blank_start]rectal temp 1hr post birth[blank_end] - more frequently [blank_start]attempting to stand and walk[blank_end] - rapidly [blank_start]find udder and suckle colostrum[blank_end] Low: - [blank_start]low birth weight <1kg[blank_end] - born [blank_start]later in litter[blank_end] - longer [blank_start]birth interval bt/w piglets[blank_end] - born [blank_start]weak[blank_end] - take [blank_start]longer to make udder contact[blank_end] - born with [blank_start]a damaged/ruptured umbilical cord[blank_end]

Piglet Husbandry Procedures 1. Teeth [blank_start]Reduction[blank_end] - clipping or grinding [blank_start]@ <5 days old[blank_end] - removes [blank_start]sharp points on needle teeth[blank_end] - prevents [blank_start]facial injuries to litter mates[blank_end] and [blank_start]damage to teat and udder[blank_end] 2. Tail [blank_start]Docking[blank_end] - prevent [blank_start]tail biting (Vice)[blank_end] - must be [blank_start]performed by vet if 7+ days old[blank_end] 3. Fostering & Equalising [blank_start]litter size[blank_end] - adjust [blank_start]# piglets suckling[blank_end] to [blank_start]functional teat number[blank_end] - group [blank_start]even sized piglets together[blank_end]