Swine Care and Management

Roy Beckford
Agriculture Agent
UF/IFAS Lee County
Hog History or ‘Hogstory’

z Most hogs as we
know them today are
thought to have
descended from the
Eurasian Wild Boar.
z From Asia, they
spread to Europe and
Africa.
Hogs in the U.S.

z Hogs arrived in the New

World with the
conquistadors
z In the early days of
Americas conquest,
cured pork products
(hams and bacon) even
served as an early form
of currency
Some interesting U.S. history

z Kewanee, Illinois, is
the Hog capital of
the World

Picture From [Link]

So you’ve bought a pig!

z How old is it?

z Is it a weaner?
z How much does it weigh?
z Is it a feeder?
z Is it male?
z Is it castrated?
z Is it female?
z What breed is it?
Some definitions

z Pig – a very young hog

z Feeder Pig – weighing between 40 and 70 pounds
z Hog – over 120 pounds
z Gilt – a female that has yet to bear young
z Sow – a female that has borne young
z Shoat – a recently weaned pig
z Barrow – a castrate
z Boar – an intact male
Stockmanship

z Before working with pigs, attendants should

receive adequate instruction and know the
basic needs of the animals entrusted to their
care.
z By recognizing behaviors and other
symptoms that indicate discomfort or disease
problems, attendants should know when they
need to take remedial action or to consult a
veterinarian.
Basic Stockmanship Skills

z To minimize the pigs' excitement,

attendants should make an easily
recognized signal before entering
the barn or the room.
z Pigs should be lifted with care,
gentleness and patience.
z Knowledge of how the healthy
animal behaves is very important.
The Healthy Pig Statistics

z Strong appetite
z Temperature around 102.5
degrees F
z Sleek hair coat
z Respiration rate around 15-20
breaths per minute
z Heart rate around 58 to 70 beats
per minute (Higher in younger
animals)
Signs of Illness

z Slow getting up from bed

z Loss of appetite
z Looking drawn
z Developing diarrhea
z Acting depressed
z Vomiting
z Lame or stiff gait
z Acting uncoordinated
Modern Pork Production

Modern pork has become a source of high-

quality protein and valuable nutrients such as
iron and zinc, mainly through:

z Selective breeding
z Better management systems
z Advancements in veterinary livestock
medicine
z Improved feeding practices
Breeds of Pigs - 3 Most Popular

z Duroc
z Hampshire
z Yorkshire
…and their crosses are the backbone of the
modern pork industry in the United States
The Duroc (A colored breed)

z Originally Duroc-Jersey
z Developed from crosses
between Jersey Red of New
Jersey, and the Duroc of New
York
z Red in color, with smallish
drooping ears
z Great muscling and meat
qualities makes it ideal for
terminal crossing
The Hampshire (A colored breed)

z Of English origin
z Black hog with a distinctive
white belt encircling the
shoulder region
z Has erect ears and trim
appearance
z Offspring show rapid growth
and exceptional leanness
z On average, do not produce
large litters
The Yorkshire (A White Breed*)

z All white, with sharply

erect ears and dark eyes
z Shares origins with the
English Large White
z Highly recommended for
youngsters, and is the
most widely available of
the purebred swine breeds
z Yorkshires can grow at a
rate of over pounds per
day * Not really white, but lightest shade
in the brown color range
Other common breeds – The spotted

z AKA Spotted Poland

China
z Black and white
spots
z Sometimes primarily
black
z Sometimes primarily
white
z Drooping ears
Other Common Breeds – The Berkshire

z Large black breed with

splashes in face and
lower half of the body
z Short erect ears
z Very valuable in Japan
where it sells for
premium prices
Other Common Breeds – The Landrace

z White in color
z Longest of the popular
breeds
z Distinctive long, drooping
ears
z Among the most docile of
breeds
z Produces very large litters
Interesting (endangered) Breed

The Mulefoot

z Has solid hoof like a

mule, not the cloven hoof
with two points seen in
other swine breeds
z Last herds isolated on an
island in the Mississippi
River near Louisiana
Handling of Swine

z Gentle handling and good

husbandry practices will
improve swine productivity.
z Where sows showed little fear
of humans, reproductive
performance was high.
z Where sows were fearful of
humans, reproductive
performance was lower
Animal-Human Contact

z Be sure the hog is made

aware of your presence.
z Use a soft soothing voice.
z Pigs quickly learn to
recognize voices, especially
if they are associated with
food.
z As pigs become familiar
with handlers, the sound of
a familiar voice is often
calming to the animal.
Handling tools

z Snare – used for

market weight and
larger hogs
z Mouth speculum –
used to keep the moth
open for administration
of medicines or oral
examination
z Chutes – Loading,
transportation
Moving Hogs

z Always remember pigs will

move away from walls
toward openings.
z This is an advantage
since one can use a "hog
board" to simulate walls.
z Pigs will refuse to move if
the place you wish them
to go is dark
Moving Hogs

z Lighting should be bright, but even.

z Hogs have wide angle vision and
are sensitive to sharp contrasts of
light and dark.
z Will balk or refuse to move if they
see shadows, puddles, bright spots,
a change in flooring type or texture,
drains, metal grates, or flapping
objects.
z Will be balky and difficult to drive
until they have been on concrete for
at least 30 minutes.
The New Environment

z When pigs first meet, they go

through a period in which they
establish social relationships.
One pig dominates, and the
others become subordinate.
z In a socially-stable pen, which is
the desired environment, each
pig has a stable social
relationship with each other pig
Housing

z Housing system must provide

conditions conducive to comfort, good
health, growth and performance at all
stages of the pig's life.
z Temperature requirements (thermal
comfort zones) vary with age and size
and the environmental conditions in
the housing system used.
z Temperature at pig level may differ
several degrees from that at higher
levels, where it is commonly
measured.
Housing Pigs – main objectives

z Create a true micro-environment

z ½ inch backboard or sheet insulation beneath the
sheet metal roofing prevents condensation

8 ft

An Example 4ft
5ft
5ft

12-16 ft

Front View Side View

Ventilation

z Protect pigs of all ages from draughts. Protection is

extremely important for piglets up to 2 weeks of age,
newly weaned pigs and sick/injured pigs.
z The effects of dust on the health of pigs are not well
documented nor are the ways of reducing dust levels
in the room.
z Until ways of reducing respirable dust levels are
better defined, follow simple, good housekeeping
habits.
Flooring

All floors must be safe for pigs. Flooring

materials differ in their suitability for pigs of
different ages. Some characteristics to look
for include:
z A dry, well drained surface
z Solid non-slip footing
z Sharp edges that may cause injury.
Temperature Control During
Frost/freezes

z Provide insulation against

draughts
z Provide bedding (may
increase temp. at pig level
by up to 10 degrees)
z Consider installing warm
bulbs
Effects of heat stress

z Pigs try to minimize

the effects of heat
stress by an increase
in heat dissipation
and
z A reduction in heat
produced from body
metabolism
Effects of heat stress (Heat
Dissipation)

z Increase heat dissipation by

increasing respiration rate
(panting). The pig is thus cooled
via a process called evaporative
cooling.
z Pigs will increase their body
surface area by sprawling out to
increase contact with a cool
surface like a floor.
z Seeking and washing in water.
Effects of heat stress (Reduced body
metabolism)

z Eating, digestion, and nutrient absorption all

generate heat.
z Pigs reduce their metabolic heat production
by eating less feed.
z Voluntary reduction in feed intake by the pig
is an effort to lower the heat increment of
feeding and thereby decreases the amount
of heat that will need to be dissipated into the
environment.
Nutrition

z Pigs—being versatile
omnivores—can eat a wide
range of feeds, such as pasture
grasses and other fibrous
materials, as well as alternative
energy and protein sources.
z Since they do not have rumens,
pigs digest fiber primarily in
their large intestine through
fermentation.
Nutrition

z Conventional swine rations consist primarily of corn

and soybean meal—corn for energy and soybean meal
for protein.
z Pigs should be fed daily, using a diet that meets the
basic nutritional needs of given categories of pigs as
currently defined the National Research Council
(NRC).
z The Pig Site: [Link]
 Nutrition
Age Weight Daily Feed
Consumption (Crude protein)

8 wks 40 lbs 1.2 Pelleted starter-

pounds grower, 17-18%

12 wks 75 lbs 2.5 – 3 pounds Grind and mix,

11-15%

16 wks 125 lbs 4 – 5 Pounds Grind and mix,

15%

To Market 150-230 lbs 6–7 Grind and mix,

pounds 14-15%
Watering

z Drinking water must be

available at all times. It should
be fresh and free from
contamination.
z Nipple drinkers provide an
excellent source of clean,
uncontaminated water.
z In areas where water quality
may vary, test the water
regularly to ensure its suitability
for the animals.
Health – husbandry practices

z Good housekeeping practices such as removing

manure, washing down pens, disinfecting and
generally cleaning up the facility are essential to
maintaining a healthy herd.
z Pigs should be checked twice daily for signs of
disease, injury or non-competitiveness (for food).
z Sick or injured animals should be attended to
immediately, preferably moved to a warm,
comfortable, draft-free environment.
Health - husbandry practices

z Entry to barns should be controlled

to reduce the risk of disease being
either transmitted by people (on
boots, etc.), pets, rodents or wild
animals.
z Medications should be used only
on the advice of a veterinarian,
following recommended treatment
levels.
Health – Practicing Bio-security

z Add a foot bath at the

entrance to your pig barn
or pen
z Do not take visitors
directly to visit your pig,
especially if they are
coming from, or own a
farm themselves
z Store feeds away from
birds and rodents
Health & Disease Overview

z Before leaving the farm of purchase, find out

the brands of feed being used on feeders
z Enquire about vaccination status
z After bringing the feeder pig home, find out
from other buyers what illnesses its siblings
are having
z Check your pig everyday, get it accustomed
to your voice, and purchase a rectal
thermometer
Health & Disease – Vaccines and
wormers

Vaccines available for: Wormers available for:

z Leptospirosis z Stomach worms
z Parvo-virus z Whipworms
z Atrophic Rhinitis z Lungworms
z Swine erysipelas z Mange mites
z Transmissible z Lice
gastroenteritis
Some Common Diseases and
Conditions of Pigs

A quick A-Z overview

Abscesses

z Pus-filled swellings caused

by bacterial infections
z May be lanced and
drained, and flushed with
betadine, iodine or
hydrogen peroxide
z Always lance abscesses
away from other pigs
z RX - with common
antibiotics
Atrophic Rhinitis

z Respiratory disease caused by

multiple disease pathogens
z Transmitted to young pigs via
nose to nose contact with their
dams
z Early symptoms include
sneezing, sniffling, blood from
nose
z Late symptoms include atrophy
of the bones of the snout,
making the snout appears
twisted
Clostridial Enteritis

z Intestinal disease caused by

Clostridium perfringens Type C
z Causes diarrhea which may or
may not be bloody
z Pigs contract the disease from
the sow or from contact with
infected soil especially where
feces are dropped
z Prevention – Sanitation,
Vaccination
z RX - antibiotics
Dehydration

z Caused by illnesses that

result in scouring
z Symptoms include
sunken eyes, raised hair,
Weakness, shivering, dry
nose
z RX – Rehydrate with oral
glucose, electrolytes
(Pedialyte, Gatorade)
Erysipelas (Diamond Skin Disease)

z Caused by a bacteria
z First sign may be the Rapid death of
one or more 50 – 200 pound pigs
z Pigs lose appetite, walk with arched
backs and red diamond-shaped
lesions may appear on body
z Chronic condition causes arthritis in
pigs
z Prevention – Vaccination renders
effective protection
z RX – Antibiotics (not very effective)
E. coli

z Bacterium that causes

several illnesses
z Causes post weaning
scours
z Causes serious condition
known as hemorrhagic
bowel syndrome
z Prevention – Good
housekeeping
z RX - Antibiotics
Greasy Pig Disease

z A Staphylococcus (staph) infection

z Staph is a secondary invader to previous skin
infections such as mange mites or injuries
z Skin flakes off, becomes crusty and may crack, and
may have a stinky brown secretion
z Pigs grow dull and go off feed
z RX – Antibiotics, medicated shampoos approved for
swine
Leptospirosis (Lepto)

z May be transmitted in the urine of dogs, cows, rats

and swine
z Enters through the mucus membrane or breaks in
the skin
z Causes fever, diarrhea, loss of appetite
z Classic jaundice symptoms in white pigs may be
seen
z RX – Antibiotic therapy under veterinary guidance
Lungworm

z Hogs are infected by

ingesting infected
earthworms
z Larvae migrate to the heart
and lungs
z Asthmatic cough
characterized by
‘thumping’ noise
z RX – Effective parasite
control program
MMA (Mastitis, Metritis, Agalactia)

z Syndrome characterized by
z Mastitis – udder infection
z Metritis – uterine or womb infection
z Agalactia – Loss of milk
z RX – Reduce stress, treat symptoms;
Antibiotics, corticosteroids, multivitamins,
oxytocin
Mycoplasmal Pneumonia

z Caused by organism known as

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
z Mostly seen in pigs about 3 months old
z A dry chronic cough evident especially
after exercising
z Loss of appetite, fever
z RX - Antibiotics
Swine Influenza

z The hog version of the flu, usually caused by

the Type A influenza virus
z May be spread via lungworm eggs,
transmitted among pigs and between pigs
and humans
z Deep dry cough, fever, loss of appetite, eyes
and nose discharge
z Hogs tend to recover from the disease
Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)

z Highly contagious, serious viral disease

z Occurs mostly in winter months
z Virus gets to pigs from multiple sources including,
infected pigs, infected boots, dogs, birds
z Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration,
death
z RX – no specific treatment. Rehydrate, administer
antibiotics and keep comfortable
Whipworms, Roundworms, stomach
worms

z Worms consume valuable

nutrients and starve pigs
of food and energy
z Infected animals go off
food, develop anemia and
may die
z RX – an effective parasite
control program
Waste Management

z The goal of sustainable waste management is to

enhance on-farm nutrient cycling and to protect the
environment from pollutants.
z Hog manure is an excellent soil builder—supplying
organic matter and nutrients and stimulating the
biological processes in the soil to build fertility.
z If possible, manure should always be incorporated
into the soil as soon as possible after spreading to
avoid losses of nitrogen and reduce odor.
Thanks Guys!!!