MANAGEMENT OF PIGS

By J.J.F MOOLEKI
PIG KEEPING SYSTEMS
 These are:
 Free-range or scavenging pig keeping system.

 Semi-intensive system of keeping pigs.

 intensive pig keeping system (Small–scale and

large scale system of keeping pigs).
FREE-RANGE 'SCAVENGING'
PIG KEEPING SYSTEM

 Little time and money spent in improving the

well-being of the pigs
 Shelter may or may not be provided to the
pigs
 Pigs are left to find on their own food.

 Indigenous breeds are usually reared

 High rate of piglet loss due to diseases,

parasites
SEMI-INTENSIVE PIG KEEPING
 More time and money spent on improving
the well-being of the pigs
 Pigs spend the night in houses and move in
a fenced yard daytime
 Quality of the feed may be improved by
buying feedstuffs
 Selection of the best pigs for breeding

 Faster growing and healthier pigs.

SMALL-SCALE INTENSIVE PIG
KEEPING
 High investments in terms of time,
money
 Buildings keep fatteners, boars, sows,
and sows with their piglets separate
 Providing extra feed helps the pigs
grow faster
 Faster growing improved breeds which
produce larger litters are usually
reared.
 Heavier animals are sold, thus earning
much higher prices
BREEDS OF PIGS
BREEDS OF PIGS CONT…
CHINISE BREEDS
BREEDS CONT… LANDRACE
BREEDS… HAMPSHIRE
BREEDS…
BREEDS… BARKSHIRE
BREEDS … LARGE WHITE
PIG HOUSING
 Good housing should protect pigs from:

 heavy rain,

 strong wind, and

 strong sunlight  the skin of Albino pigs burns in

strong sunlight
REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD
HOUSING
 Site should not be waterlogged
 Trees on the site provide shade and protect
the pens from strong wind.
 water should be readily available
 pens easy to clean, with furrows for cleaning
water to run-off
 Water proof, insulatory roof with sufficient
overhang to prevent rain entering.
REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD
HOUSING (CONTINUED)
 Slightly sloping floor, to allow liquid manure
to run off
 Walls left as open as possible for good
ventilation
 Pens should each have easy to clean feeding
and drinking troughs
SOW AND PIGLET HOUSING
 Covered creep area for piglets
 Protective area away from being overlain by the
sow
 Extra heat provision
 Provision of creep feed

 Open, cooler, well ventilated area for sow

HOUSING FATTENING AND
BREEDING PIGS
 No more than 10 fattening pigs in one pen.

 Boars should be housed in individual pens

 Breeding sows kept in individual pens or

allowed out on a fenced piece of land
HOUSING
HOUSING …
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HOUSING …
HOUSING…
HOUSING …
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HOUSING …
PIG BREEDING
 Selection of gilts for breeding:
 They should have at least 12 normal teats
 They should be the biggest and heaviest of the
litter.
 They should have strong legs and walk well.
 Their parents should be good breeding animals
capable of producing good litters at regular
intervals.
MATING FEMALES
 First
mating for gilts after three
regular heats - at about eight or nine
months.
 Mating too early - small litters, problems
at birth, a loss of condition and poor
growth of the sow.
 Sowmated at the first heat after
weaning
 about 3 to 7 days after weaning for sows
in good condition
 Successfulmating requires good
timing during heat
SELECTING AND MATING THE BOAR
 Same selection points as for breeding
gilts
 Avoid choosing a boar too closely
related to your breeding gilts and sows
 Mated for the first time when 8 to 10
months old
 Observe mating intervals for different
ages to maintain health, ability to
mate and fertility.
IMPORTANT BREEDING DETAILS TO
RECORD
 The date of the service;
 The identification (name or number) of the
boar and sow;
 The date of farrowing (which will tell you if
the sow was inseminated at the first
service);
 The size of the litter.
BIRTH AND CARE OF NEW-BORN
PIGLETS
 Preparation of the sow and farrowing pen for
the birth
 Perinatal care of piglets

 Problems at delivery – sow and piglets

 Savage sow syndrome due to poor sow

selection – poor mothering ability
 Fostering
ROUTINE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
 Teeth Trimming
 Iron injection

 Tail docking

 Identification – ear-tagging, notching

 Castration is not a must

 Weaning
PIG FEEDING
 Breeding gilts and sows - 13 % CP containing
feed. (1 part of protein feedstuff : 2 parts of
energy feedstuff)
 Pregnant sow
 13% CP feed.
 Reduce the feed given by one third in the last 3
days.
 Give maize bran if available to act as a laxative
PIG FEEDING (CONTINUED)
 Lactating sow
 13 % CP feed. 1 part of protein feedstuff : 2
parts of energy feedstuff
 ½ kg meal per piglet per day

 Growing piglets – 18% CP feed (1 part of

protein feedstuff : 1 part of energy feedstuff)
TRANSPORTATION OF LIVE PIGS
 Put bedding on the floor of the vehicle
 Use a loading ramp which has a
sloping side for the pigs to walk up on
comfortably
 Transportation in the cool hours of the
early morning or evening
 Do not mix pigs of different sizes or
from different pens
 Spray the pigs with cold water before
loading and frequently during
transportation.