AVS 112 Notes
Production Characteristics:
2-3 pounds of food per 1 pound gain
Factors to consider when starting up a swine production:
- Type of business operation
Type of Hog to raise
Breed to raise
Breeding system
Selection traits
Traditional business system: sow herd enterprises feeder pig production low or high investment farrow-to-finish one litter pasture two litter pasture low investment confinement high investment confinement feeder pig finisher production they take in pigs because they have surplus grain farrow to finish breeding herd, fed to market weight purebred or seed stock operations similar to farrow to finish except products boars, gilts and sows.
Confinement vs pasture: conefinement: (BENEFITS) its closed, easy to disinfect
Reasonable control of the environment.
Separation of manure from the pig resulting in fewer opportunities for disease transmission.
Multiple pens allow for split-sex feeding and separation of pigs by weight.
Excellent parasite control opportunities.
Multiple pens and feeders allow for age-appropriate diets to be fed.
Less time required for observing and managing pigs.
CHALLENGES:
High investment in a single purpose building
Possible power outages can be deadly.
Pig completely dependent upon the management skills of the caretaker.
Diseases can spread easily when pigs are in close contact with each other.
Pasture:
BENEFITS:
Ability to disperse pigs over a large area and heat/sunshine reduces pig-topig disease transmission.
Low cost of facilities.
Lots of opportunity for exercise.
Quality forage on the pasture can meet a portion of pigs’ nutritional needs. CHALLENGES:
Minimal control of the environment.
Difficult to clean and disinfect, requiring adequate pastures to allow for rotation to clean ground each year.
Controlling predators necessary.
Control of diseases spread by wild animals.
Managing in cold, hot or rainy weather.
Parasite control needed.
More time required for individually
2-3 pounds of food per 1 pound gain
Factors to consider when starting up a swine production:
- Type of business operation
Type of Hog to raise
Breed to raise
Breeding system
Selection traits
Traditional business system: sow herd enterprises feeder pig production low or high investment farrow-to-finish one litter pasture two litter pasture low investment confinement high investment confinement feeder pig finisher production they take in pigs because they have surplus grain farrow to finish breeding herd, fed to market weight purebred or seed stock operations similar to farrow to finish except products boars, gilts and sows.
Confinement vs pasture: conefinement: (BENEFITS) its closed, easy to disinfect
Reasonable control of the environment.
Separation of manure from the pig resulting in fewer opportunities for disease transmission.
Multiple pens allow for split-sex feeding and separation of pigs by weight.
Excellent parasite control opportunities.
Multiple pens and feeders allow for age-appropriate diets to be fed.
Less time required for observing and managing pigs.
CHALLENGES:
High investment in a single purpose building
Possible power outages can be deadly.
Pig completely dependent upon the management skills of the caretaker.
Diseases can spread easily when pigs are in close contact with each other.
Pasture:
BENEFITS:
Ability to disperse pigs over a large area and heat/sunshine reduces pig-topig disease transmission.
Low cost of facilities.
Lots of opportunity for exercise.
Quality forage on the pasture can meet a portion of pigs’ nutritional needs. CHALLENGES:
Minimal control of the environment.
Difficult to clean and disinfect, requiring adequate pastures to allow for rotation to clean ground each year.
Controlling predators necessary.
Control of diseases spread by wild animals.
Managing in cold, hot or rainy weather.
Parasite control needed.
More time required for individually