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Pig Husbandry (How the UK pig production system works (Multiplier-animals…
Pig Husbandry
How the UK pig production system works
Multiplier-animals produced from Grandparent stocks for commercial farms
420,000 sows in the UK, with an average herd size of 70 due to more small holder units with only 20 pigs
Genetic nucleus-Grandparent stocks bred
Commercial farms produce the slaughter generation
Mostly intensive
40% outdoors
A few large integrator units (contain everything on site including the abattoir)
Slaughter <100kg live weight
Levy paid for every slaughter to reinvest into the industry
Exporting to other countries such as China + Germany common
Not a lot of profit so many farms are going out of business!
Information on normal farming practices
Defra for welfare codes
Assurance schemes for British farming
Routine procedures on farms
Outdoors isn't always best as injuries are common, sunburn causes prostaglandin release leading to abortion
Birth
Viable pig >1.25kg, below this weight they are normally euthanised by blunt force to the head
First 24 hours
Teeth clipping to prevent mastitis + facial necrosis (infection from injury to the face)
Tail docking only allowed if there is an outbreak of tail biting, sensitive neuroma on the stump left
Iron injection into the neck as the rear is the best meat
Ear notching/tagging/tattooing/nose rings (prevent rooting outdoors)- restraint + ear defenders needed in grown pigs
Adequate colostrum as they are born without any antibody immunity
Fostering to even out litter size only if not diseased
Pre-weaning
Castration-not allowed on the red tractor scheme, usually not needed in the UK as we cull before 100 kilos + before puberty reached
For slow growers/organic castration needs to be done <7 days (without anaesthetic normally)
Vaccinations
Weaning
Moved away from Sow at 28 days normally
21 days if you fill certain criteria
Often on a Thursday so sows come back into oestrus on Monday
Breeding sows
Gilts come into oestrus at 120kg/210 days
Mate on 2nd/3rd oestrus to increase litter size
115 days gestation
28 days lactation
Weaning to oestrus is 7 days
Cull after parity 6-8
Artificial insemination
Corkscrew shaped like the boar's penis
Oestrus can last 24hrs-5 days so insemination needed every 12/24 hours
Gestation/Farrowing
Group housing then moved to a stall 1 week before birth in the UK
Stall/farrowing crates not allowed for the whole of gestation in Europe
When assistance is needed oxytocin/prostaglandin can be given to induce farrowing