PIGS

Question 1

Outline the UK pig industry, including economics

Answer 1

1. Roughly 55% in UK, rest from abroad Holland, spain
2. Becoming a smaller industry: fewer, larger pig farms
3. 40-45% out door production system
4. vast majoring of pigs that are born outside are weaned INSIDE. Buying outdoor pig = only born outdoor. Free range = outside till slaughter

Question 2

What are the main pressures facing the pig industry?

Answer 2

1. buyers wanting cheap prices
2. environmentalists wanting small carbon footprint
3. welfare
4. Health authorities = meat doesn’t kill anyone!

Question 3

Genetic improvement

Answer 3

1. Breed choice huge part of genetic improvement = vast majority of breed improvement is done in large multinational breeding companies
2. Improving breeding through trait selection- scan live animals using ex human scanners, work our muscle mass, lean, fat etc
3. Diversified cross breeding

Question 4

Pig production cycle

Answer 4

1. buy in pig
2. quarantine for 42 days (4-6 weeks)
3. Mate with sow: third oestrus to increase litter size
4. 85% pregnant those not = return at 21 days
5. pregnancy diagnose at 28 - 35 days
6. not pegnant = cull
7. gestation 115 days
8. farrow in farrowing crate individually
9. lactate 21-28 days
10. mother another litter or cull
    This is the exact same indoors and outdoors

Question 5

Pig farm when do they have piglets

Answer 5

1. non seasonal- cycle every 3 weeks so farms have a certain number farrow at the same time throughout the year

Question 6

How many litters do most sows have?

Answer 6

6

Question 7

What are the average ages of weaner pigs, pork pigs and bacon pigs?

Answer 7

1. Weaner = 70 days of age
2. Pork Pig = 120 days of age
3. Bacon pig = 145 days of age

Question 8

What is important for pigs with regards to bio security?

Answer 8

1. All in all out approach.

2. Completely disinfect the shed after one batch leaves

Question 9

How many times does the sow “go around” the pig performance cycle a year?

Answer 9

1. 2.3 to 2.4 litters per year

Question 10

Batch management (how many sows farrow per 100)

Answer 10

1. Expect 4.5 sows to farrow per week per 100 sows on continuous flow system
2. Pigs at every stage at every week of the year

Question 11

How can you maximise health and performance of pigs

Answer 11

1. minimise mixing

2. keep batches separate

Question 12

What current issues face the pig industry?

Answer 12

1. Health: new disease, zoonoses etc
2. moving awya from antibiotics to vaccines
3. welfare
4. environment

Question 13

What vaccines are given to Sows?

Answer 13

1. Parvo
2. Enzootic pneumonia
3. PMWS (circo virus)
4. Erysipalas
5. E coli