SWINE MANAGEMENT

AMY M. GONZALES-EGUIA
Mobile No. 0998 544 0305
ATI-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry
Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines

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 FARM MANAGEMENT
Feeding
Breeding
Health

Aspects of pig
production

Economics
Housing

Record
Keeping

2
 Farm Management
coordination and planning of farm activities
Establishing and maintaining good working
environment

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 large litter size at
weaning

fast growers

efficient feed
converter

good quality
carcass

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Systems of Operation

Sow-weaner operation
Farrow to finish
operation
Finisher production
Breeder Farm
Boar Operation/AI Center

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SELECTION OF
BOARS
 SELECTION OF BOARS
Masculinity in
appearance and
action
clearly visible
primary sex
organs
uniformly hanging
equal-sized Sex Character
testicles
 Dont
Touch!!
 Ideal Testicle Size

A boar should have large even testicles.

A boar with large testicles is most likely to produce earlier
maturing daughters.
 Bad testicle examples

Small Testicles Uneven Testicles Small Uneven Testicles

 6 months at the time
of selection
serious faults in
conformation as well
as desirable traits are
developed enough at
this age
select a boar which is
tested for fertility
Age
 Number, spacing
and presentation of
live teats
(at least 12)

Reproductive
soundness
 Boars should have a high quality underline with as many teats placed as far
forward as possible

longer bodied
and more desirable

4 Teats Placed Above the Sheath

3 Teats Placed Above the Sheath Pin Nipples / Bad Spacing / None
Functional Teats
Boar should have a larger and more
defined sheath.

Small Sized Sheath Medium Sized Sheath

Large Sized Sheath

Selection of boars with heritable
defects can be avoided by careful
analysis of the source herd production
records.
umbilical or inguinal hernias
cryptorchidism
rectal prolapse
poor underlines
 Body conformation
Well-proportioned body
length, depth and height
 Determine
the
weaknesses
of the gilts
and sows in
the herd to
make
necessary
adjustments
MANAGEMENT OF
BOARS

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MANAGEMENT OF BOARS
Both genetic and environment determine the
performance of swine herd.

Genetic contribution is determined by

boars and gilts selected breeding

program used
 MANAGEMENT OF
BOARS

Management
Climate Housing Nutrition

Can hinder the genetic

expression of performance trait
 TRANSPORT of BOARS
TRANSPORT of BOARS

Minimize stress, diseases

or injuries
no feeding 1-2
hours before
loading
safe, well-built
loading and
unloading
facilities
TRANSPORT of BOARS

clean & disinfect truck for loading

suitable bedding and protection

divider when hauling unfamiliar boars

avoid harsh handling

Consider loading density

ARRIVAL AT THE FARM
Rest in a clean, dry , warm and
draft free pen

Isolation

Acclimatization
ISOLATION/QUARANTINE

30 DAYS
feed & check at the
end of the day
no medicated feed
observe signs of
diseases
deworm/vaccinate
 ACCLIMATIZATION
3 weeks
Blood tests against diseases
exposure to breeding barn manure
housed adjacent to culled sows or
market gilts
 COMMON PROBLEMS

Abnormal Disease

or poor high
semen temperature
production over-use
 COMMON PROBLEMS

Bullied

Poor sex injury

drive
laziness (hot
weather)
 COMMON PROBLEMS

Feet sores &

Physical cracks
disorders arthritis
injuries to
muscles/ligaments
Frequency of Use
Boar Age Service
Interval

8-12 5-10 days

months

>1 year 3-4 days

 OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS
acclimatize
boars before
use

1st use at
8 months
old
ideal ratio:
1 AI boar: 50-100
sows
 Regular Boar Activities
4-6 months Selection
6-7 months Acclimatization
7-8 months Training
8-12 months collection: 1x/wk
(max 2X)
>12 months collection: 2-3x/week
30-36 months Planned culling
 Summary
Proper Management of herd boars returns big
dividends to pig producer.

Many potential problems starting from

selection up to culling largely contribute to
expenditure if not detected and prevented
early.

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Selection of Gilts

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Selection of Gilts
The aim of selecting gilts is to keep animals
that you expect to raise the most piglet / sow/
year without genetic abnormalities.

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Selection of Gilts

Dont choose gilts with small

infantile vulva or abnormal
vulva!
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 difficult for a boar
Upturned vulvas to naturally breed

Ideal Vulva

proportional in
size with the tip
pointing
downward
Infantile Vulva

hard to breed naturally or by AI

abnormally smaller Reproductive
tract on the inside than normal
may have difficulty in farrowing 38
 Well-
developed
underlines
or
mammary
glands!

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 NO
INVERTED
TEATS!!!

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 Good
mothering
ability!!!

Large litter size

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 Strong back
for longevity
Strong legs

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GILT MANAGEMENT

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 buy 6 months-old gilts
house gilts near the boar
Breed on the 2nd - 3rd
estrus
8 months old 130-150 kg
Flush 2 weeks before
breeding
Move to the pens for D/P
sows before breeding

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 FEEDING
need adequate feed for
longer productive life
130kgs at 7 months

18-20 mm back fat

3-4kgs of feed for 2
weeks before breeding
3000-3200 kcal DE
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What you need to know about
gilts exposure to light?

Gilts exposed to 14-18 hours

light:

Reach puberty earlier

There is no difference in
ovulation rate.
Both gilts and the boar are
sexually more active.

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 Boar Exposure

essential to stimulate heat

very young gilts not less than 160 days old
use mature boars >10 months old
allow 10-15 minutes per exposure
direct or fence-line
rotation of boars

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 Breeding
On or before 8 months
Cycled 2 or 3 times
130-150 kgs LW

BREED ON
GOOD
STANDING
HEAT

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Management of Dry Sows

Aim for short dry period! 49

Management of Dry Sows

Keep sow in good health and

body condition
Lactation period not longer than
6 weeks
No feed on weaning day
Newly weaned sow to paddocks
Expose weaned sows to the
boar
Check for heat 2x a day
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 Observe right timing of
insemination
Breed only good sows;
cull bad ones
Provide exercise
8 parity sows and older have
longer dry periods
Negative effect of heat stress
on onset of estrus

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 DRY SOW PROGRAM
1 - 10 days
flushing
4.0 KG/DAY

maximum of 10 days or until the day

before service/insemination
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 WHY FLUSHING???

BODY RECONDITIONING
PROMOTES OVULATION
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Breeding Management

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 BREEDING METHODS

Natural Mating Artificial Insemination

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A successful insemination is the reward for
good heat detection.

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Management of Pregnant Sows

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 Sow Production Cycle
Day Activities
0 breeding
21 first heat control
42 second heat control
84 increase feed gift
100 first mange treatment
104 deworming
107 second mange treatment
111 decrease feed gift
114 expected farrowing date
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PREGNANT SOW PROGRAM
When and how to check
pregnancy?
CHECK RECORDS!!!
heat control
21 & 42 days 59
 Check External Signs !!!

Enlargement of the udder and

abdomen (3 months after service)
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Ultrasound- Doppler test

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SCANNER

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 100 days
1st mange
treatment

104 days
deworming
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 107 days

2 ndmange
treatment
transfer to farrowing pen
change to lactating feed
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 111 days
decrease feed
2.0 kg/day
inject vit. ADE

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 114 days +/- 3Days
Day of farrowing

farrowing day : NO FEED but

with water
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 PIGLET ACTIVITIES

Day farrowing time:

0 - disinfection of umbilical
cord
- cutting of needle teeth/ tail
docking
_identification
(EARTAGGING)

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 PIGLET ACTIVITIES
Day
0-3 iron injection
5 - 10 castration

28 - 30 weaning 6 to 8 kg BW

vaccination
30-60
_ hog cholera

Deworm piglets one week after Hog Cholera Vaccination

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 On first few
days after
farrowing,
carefully
observe for any
disease
condition and
inadequate milk
production
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 Provide clean, dry, draft free environment
with temp of 30-32oC
Extra care during 1st 3-5 days
Minimize crushing
Assist piglets to suckle
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 Supplement feed
or do fostering
Solid feed as
early as possible
Prevent Anemia
Wean not earlier
than 21 days
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LACTATING SOW PROGRAM

weaning
28 30 days

remove the sow not the piglets

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Management of
Weaners

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HELPFUL TIPS ON WEANERS

Remove the sow and not

the piglets
Transfer 3-5 days after
Avoid mixing litters on 1st
week
Provide enough space
Fresh drinking water
Re-group weaners
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 Feeding Considerations

Ensure piglets are used to

solid feed at weaning
Reduce feed at weaning
Small amount per feeding
Better use mash or wet feeds
Ad libitum feeding when
they are 20-25 kg

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 MINIMIZE STRESS
Give anti-stress
Transfer during coldest part of the day
Provide warm welcome (30oC)
Avoid overcrowding
Make feed & water accessible
Provide good environment & good feed
Minimize incidence of fighting

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 Finisher
Management

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 FATTENER MANAGEMENT

On the day of transfer to new pen

n group pigs according to size
n give plenty of water
n give little amount of feeds
n separate weak & sick pigs
n prevent fighting
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 FATTENER MANAGEMENT

1 - 4 days after transfer

gradual increase in amount of
feeds given

5 days after transfer

give proper amount & quality of
feeds

7 days after transfer

deworming / mange treatment 79
FEEDING METHODS

AD LIBITUM
RESTRICTED
AD LIBITUM UNTIL 50 KG.
THEN RESTRICTED

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81
WHAT IS CULLING?

Removal of
unwanted / unproductive
animals in the
herd...

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PLANNED VS UNPLANNED
CULLING

Planned culling is based on :

age

poor performance

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PLANNED VS UNPLANNED
CULLING

Unplanned culling
includes:

lameness
diseases

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Pointers on Culling of sows
age
litter size
fertility & prolificacy
milk production
quality of piglets

feet and leg

problem

damaged udder

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 For faster improvement of
production efficiency of the
herd, MAKE CULLING A
A PART OF YOUR
MANAGEMENT...
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 End of Management
Thanks for Listening!!!

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