Page 44 of articles about management
Environmental control in the growing phase (II): Environmental needs
In order to try to control the environment, it is important: - Be able to evaluate it. - Be familiar with the needs of different types of animals. - Implement corrective measures to adapt to those needs.
Fattening: Manipulable material and lighting
Is the lighting in warehouses up to standard? Are the manipulable materials the right ones?
Organization of the replacements IV
Another convenient option for controlling the replacement entry is to incorporate the information on the breeding chart.
Piglet castration
At what age can we castrate piglets? Is it possible to castrate without a general anesthetic? The new test on castration tries to resolve these doubts.
Ulcers in swine livestock (2/2)
Nutrition is considered to be a clear factor that increases the risk of ulcers appearing.
Environmental and sow-related factors affecting the duration of farrowing
Allowing the sow to move freely before farrowing, reducing the constipation state and avoid excessive fattening during late pregnancy all appear to be key factors in shortening farrowing time and reducing perinatal mortality.
Organization of the replacements III
In the previous chapter we began to describe several systems for recording clearly and quickly the dates that gilts come into heat and for planning gilt service.
The weaner as currency
The pig’s reproductive cycle lasts for 20 weeks, with weaning at 21 days: 16,5 gestation period + 3 lactating + average time on heat. Supposing that the sows wean 10 piglets, we can then come to the following conclusion: it takes two weeks to produce a piglet.
Thompson’s tip: Regular worm monitoring
Worms can still be a cause of financial loss in pigs. The main species of concern are ascarids (roundworms) which, in the course of the migration through the body, damage lungs and cause coughing.
Netherlands - The Minister for Agriculture plans a reduction in the use of antibiotics in livestock
The Dutch Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Gerda Verburg, declared at the end of a recent government meeting that the use of antibiotics in livestock will have to be reduced by half in the next three years to reach the levels of 1999, and at least by 20% in 2011.
Environmental control in the growing phase (I): Checking the environment
Man is possibly the only animal capable of living in practically all places in the world, regardless of the climate. This is due to his capacity to construct buildings to isolate himself from the climate however extreme it may be, maintaining an environment which allows him to survive. As domestic animals live together with man, they have to take advantage indirectly of this capacity.
Why does good cleaning and disinfection matter on pig units?
To many pig producers cleaning and disinfection is a chore they view as an expensive tedious burden.
Organization of the replacements II
In previous chapters we have looked at the importance of maintaining the ideal parity profile within each batch.
Temple Grandin: Pig Behavior During Handling
Temple Grandin discusses the design of chutes, races, and crowd pens for swine. Low stress handling improves pork quality and reduces PSE.