Good Pig Breeding Stock Should Receive Good Treatment

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 84, Issue 5, 15 May 1952, Page 373

Good Pig Breeding Stock Should Receive Good Treatment

THE importance of performance records in the selection of pigs for breeding was dealt with in a previous issue. It is equally important that breeding stock should be given, every chance of performing well on the farm of the purchaser by receiving good treatment. In this article I. H. Owtram, Extension Officer in Pig Husbandry, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, deals with this aspect of pig production. BEFORE the farmer goes to the trouble and expense of buying good pigs for breeding he should see that the conditions under which he intends to keep them are such that they will have an opportunity, at least, of repaying him for the care he has taken in their selection. This should be obvious to everybody, but in many cases it apparently is not, and, despite the fact that quite a high price may have been paid for a boar or a sow, the treatment that it receives from its new owner is such that it has very little chance of producing satisfactorily.

Making Use of Pasture Under the grassland system of farming practised in the Dominion pastures of very high quality have been developed and these pastures are most valuable for breeding pigs. The small paddock, either full of weeds, often noxious ones, or completely bare of vegetation, which is used so frequently for the dry sows and boar is of no value to them. There is no reason why pigs should not be grazed in the cow paddocks. Rooting can be stopped without difficulty by ringing the animals; a small copper ring made in the same way as a bull ring should be used. The ring is placed through the nostrils, not in the snout, and will, apart from accidents, in most cases last the life of the animal. Wire twisted through the snout is useless,

as it lasts only a short time and becomes progressively more difficult to replace, as the pigs become fully aware of their owner’s intentions and put up an increasingly strenuous resistance to the operation. In addition to the very valuable feed that pigs obtain from grazing on good clover pasture (which of course represents a direct saving to the farmer of meal, skimmed milk, or crops), they will derive great benefit from the exercise involved. Lack of exercise probably is a contributory cause of trouble to in-pig sows at farrowing time and causes boars to become so fat and unwieldy as to be virtually useless. Under natural conditions all pregnant animals get plenty of exercise and suffer from few troubles at parturition.

Though access to good drinking water is of the greatest importance, provision of it is often neglected. Troughs for cattle are often too high for pigs, and unless good creeks are available, special troughs should be provided. A gallon or two of skimmed milk once or twice a day is not a substitute for good drinking water. Pigs will drink a considerable amount of water — large quantities at a time, but small amounts frequently. Housing The main requirement in housing used for dry sows and boars is that it should provide a warm and dry place for pigs to sleep. They can be housed in a unit of the main piggery or a special unit built on to it or in movable

houses in the paddocks. In hot weather in-pig sows need to be able to get protection from sunshine. They will suffer considerably if they have no access to shade. A clean creek in which they can wallow is a great asset. Feeding It is impossible to state exact rations to be fed to in-pig sows and boars, as their individual requirements vary greatly. Observation, on the part of the farmer and knowledge of his stock are the only reliable guide to the quantities that should be given. During the first 6 weeks after sows have been served an endeavour should be made to build them up and to replace condition that they lost while suckling litters; almost all good sows lose condition while rearing a litter. To build up sows effectively individual feeding bails should be used, as these prevent fighting and bullying at the trough, ensure that each pig gets a fair share, and enable special treatment to be given to any individual that requires it. : The bails and feeding yard should be built at the most convenient point for feeding. No difficulty is. ever experienced in getting pigs to come

for their feed, provided reasonably regular times are kept. Feeding twice a day is all that is necessary, and if the stock has access to really good pasture and drinking water, one feed a day is satisfactory, at any rate after reasonable condition has been regained. It is better when one feed is being supplied to give the dairy by-products or meals in the evening. Home-grown crops can be fed at the most convenient time, and with some crops the stock can be turned in on them. The following daily rations in food units are given “as a guide to the ■quantities required by in-pig breeding sows: — ■During first 5 weeks after weaning or until satisfactory condition regained .. During next 10 weeks .. .. .. During last 2 weeks before farrowing .. Grazing on good pasture should be supplied « I food unit = I gal. skimmed milk, li ga or 101 b. mangolds.

Feeding the Boar Boars‘should be fed so as to keep them in good, healthy condition without being allowed to put on too much weight. Young boars that . are still growing must be fed well to enable them to develop properly, and they should be used sparingly and with care. Farrowing and Roaring of Litters Sows should be put into their, farrowing quarters at least a fortnight before they are due to farrow, so that they may have time to settle down. They should be fed well and provided with clean drinking water. For 24

* Food units • 6 2 Up to 6, according to condition. If skimmed milk is not being fed, this should include 21b. meat meal per day. with each of these rations. li. whey, lib. good-quality meal, 51b. sugar beet.

hours before farrowing they should be fed very lightly, and for 24 hours after farrowing only drinking water should be given. It is advisable, to provide a sow with bedding when she is put into her farrowing quarters. It is natural for a sow when due to farrow to make herself a nest and this instinct should not be thwarted. However, some sows will make a mess of any. bedding they are given, and these are , better without it. The farmer should know his sows’ habits and act accordingly. Because of shortage of labour it may be difficult to spare time to attend a sow at farrowing, but there is no doubt that it pays, because of the larger number of pigs reared. Feeding of sows while they are suckling should be on the basis of 4 food units daily for the sow’s maintenance plus 2/3 unit for each pig in the litter. Some sows may need more. Weaning and Mating Management

Careful attention at weaning time is very necessary if good breeding results are to be obtained. When the litter is 56 days old the sow should be taken away from the piglets and placed in a pen by herself and fed well. Normally she will come on heat 4 to 6 days after weaning, and she should be put to the boar 24 hours after that and again 24 hours later. When the period of heat is over the sow can be run with the rest of the dry stock, providing facilities exist to allow her to be fed so that she can regain condition quickly.

Breeding stock that is v given free range on good pasture, provided with a warm, dry place to sleep, fed well and watched carefully by an owner who has acquired a good knowledge of the behaviour and habits of his stock will provide good litters of strong, healthy pigs and the foundation of profitable pig production. The care ■and expense entailed in acquiring good breeding stock should be exploited by. good treatment of that stock.