14/09/2024
Lesson 1
Pig Farming
The main aim of any type of farming is make profit!
Most pig farmers who strive in the pig industry are people who are able to manage a farm by maximizing the litter-size (number of piglet born) ,reduce production cost while maximizing revenue and have secured a market.
Let talk feed, breeding, housing, disease management, and markets!
Feed
In piggery feed alone accounts for +60% of production costs!
Which is why securing a market as early as possible is vital.
You need to understand the nutrient requirement(digestible energy & protein),
The nutritious the feed, the faster the pig will grow and the faster you get your revenue and your profile hence the sustainable your farm .
Different stages require certain levels of digestible energy and protein!
Every feed mixture must contain:
- Vitamins,
- Minerals (bonemeal, feed lime, monocalcium phosphate),
- Proteins (Soy/sunflower cake, fishmeal),
- Digestible energy (grains)
You need to have all available especially if you will be mixing the feed yourself!
Disease Management
Set strict and proper Bio-security measures , consult with private and state Vets.
Here you will deal with:
- Parasites (internal and external)
- Microbes
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Protozoa
- Poisoning
- Dietary problems
- Metabolic disease
Breeding
Make sure you buy your breeding from a registered supply, not from a friend! This enables you as a farmer to check the production history of that pig! It will even ensure that your breeding stock produce high quality pigs with low fat content carcass.
Pig Cycle
The life cycle begins with the piglets, which normally weigh 1.5-2 kg. In each birth event (farrowing), 8 to 12 piglets are born, although sows can produce litters of more than 16. Large litters have many small piglets, most of which may not survive; those that do may grow very slowly.
The piglets remain with their mother for 21 to 38 days,
To be continued
