Breeding Season in Full Swing
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Basics of Pig Husbandry
Pig husbandry is an essential aspect of agriculture, focusing on the care, management, and breeding of pigs. Whether for homesteading or large farming operations, understanding the fundamentals can lead to a successful and rewarding experience.
Choosing the Right Breed
Selecting the appropriate pig breed is crucial and depends on your goals, whether for meat production, breeding, or other purposes. Tulip Hayes Farm specializes in American Berkshire Association registered pigs. The goal of our farm is to provide premium quality, pasture raised pork. For us, meat quality and flavor comes before growth rate and litter size. Here are some popular breeds:
· Yorkshire: Known for their large size.
· Berkshire: Valued for their flavorful pork and good growth rate.
· Duroc: Recognized for their rapid growth.
· Landrace: Favored for their prolific breeding.
Housing and Environment
Creating a suitable environment for pigs is essential for their health and productivity.
Shelter: Provide a dry, well-ventilated, and spacious shelter to protect pigs from harsh weather. While on pasture or in woods, our Berkshire pigs shelter in livestock hutches.
Space: Ensure adequate space for each pig to prevent overcrowding and stress. We’ve had as many as four 200 pound pigs get cozy in one livestock hutch. However, we provide one hutch for every three adult pigs.
Bedding: Use straw or hay to keep the area clean and comfortable. During the winter months we fill the hutches with two small square bales of straw.
Temperature: Maintain a comfortable temperature, as pigs are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
Nutrition and Feeding
Proper nutrition is key to healthy and productive pigs. Consider swine pellets, ground feed, and feed formulated for gestating or nursing sows.
Balanced Diet: Provide a balanced diet rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Feed Types: Use swine pellets, ground hog feeds, or a combination of grains, vegetables, and supplements. We source a 14% protein hog feed from our local feed mill.
Water: Ensure constant access to clean and fresh water.
Feeding Schedule: Establish a regular feeding schedule to maintain a healthy routine.
Health and Welfare
Maintaining the health and welfare of pigs prevents diseases and promotes well-being. Due to introducing our pigs to rested paddocks weekly, we have not had the need for antibiotics nor dewormer. Out of dedication to biosecurity, we regularly deworm our pigs in accordance with the schedule set by our farm’s veterinarian.
Vaccination: Keep pigs up-to-date with vaccinations to prevent common diseases. Vaccines such as Farrowsure Gold B protects litters pre and post farrowing.
Parasite Control: Implement regular deworming and parasite control measures.
Observation: Monitor pigs daily for signs of illness or distress.
Veterinary Care: Establish a relationship with a veterinarian for regular check-ups and emergencies.
Breeding and Reproduction
Understanding pig breeding and reproduction can enhance productivity. Our farm introduces gilts (female pigs who have not yet produced a litter) to a boar once the gilts have had two estrous cycles, reached nine months of age, and weigh at least 300 pounds. We aim to have sows produce their first litter by one year of age.
Breeding Age: Pigs reach sexual maturity around 5-6 months, but it's best to wait until they are 8-9 months old for breeding.
Gestation: The gestation period for pigs is approximately 114 days.
Farrowing: Provide a safe and comfortable space for sows to give birth (farrow).
Farrowing Timeline
On our farm, farrowing (the act of birthing litters of piglets) takes place twice per year per sow. Our preference is to avoid farrowing during the cold winter months.
Estrous: The estrous or heat cycle of a sow/gilt lasts an average of 21 days. Signs of heat include standing heat (day 0), swollen vulva, and increased activity.
Weaning: Transitioning piglets from milk to dry feed takes place between four and eight weeks.
Breeding Sows Back: When to safely re-breed sows is based on the sows health and body conditions. If in good health, sows can be bred back within the first one or two heat cycles after weaning.
Record Keeping
Effective record keeping is vital for managing a successful pig farm.
Health Records: Track vaccinations, treatments, and any medical history.
Breeding Records: Record breeding dates, litter sizes, and farrowing outcomes.
Financial Records: Maintain records of expenses and income for financial management.
By understanding and implementing these basics of pig husbandry, our farm can ensure our herd is healthy, productive, and well-cared for, leading to a successful and sustainable farming operation.
