1. Housing and Space Requirements

Pigs need proper housing that protects them from bad weather, predators, and diseases. A good pig house should have:

• Adequate floor space for each pig to move freely
• Good ventilation to allow fresh air and remove harmful gases
• Easy-to-clean floors to maintain hygiene
• Proper drainage to remove urine and dung
• Adequate lighting (natural or artificial)

Floor space requirements per pig:

2. Feeding Management

Pigs are monogastric animals that require a balanced diet containing energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding practices include:

• Creep feeding: Providing supplemental feed to nursing piglets from 1-2 weeks old until weaning
• Weaning: Separating piglets from the sow at 3-4 weeks (commercial) or 8 weeks (local systems)
• Feeding growers and fatteners: Small amounts multiple times daily for better digestion

A pregnant sow should receive 2-2.5 kg of feed per day, increasing to 3 kg in the last three weeks of pregnancy. A lactating sow needs at least 3 kg per day plus additional feed for each piglet in the litter.

3. Piglet Management Practices

Several important practices are performed on newborn piglets:

• Colostrum provision: Piglets must receive colostrum within 2-3 hours after birth for immunity
• Iron injection: Given within 3-4 days after birth to prevent anemia
• Tail docking: Removing part of the tail to prevent tail biting
• Teeth clipping: Trimming sharp needle teeth to prevent injuries to the sow's teats
• Castration: Removing testicles of male piglets to prevent boar taint and aggressive behavior
• Identification: Using ear tattooing, ear notching, or ear tagging to identify pigs

4. Health Management

Preventive health practices include:

• Regular vaccination against common diseases
• Deworming (especially for pregnant sows one week before farrowing)
• Keeping housing clean and disinfecting regularly
• Isolating sick pigs to prevent disease spread
• Providing clean, fresh water at all times

5. Breeding and Reproduction

Key breeding practices include:

• Flushing: Increasing feed to sows/gilts 2-3 weeks before mating to improve conception rates and litter size
• Mating: Natural mating or artificial insemination (AI) when the sow shows signs of heat (restlessness, swollen vulva, frequent urination)
• Gestation: Average pregnancy period of 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)
• Farrowing: Preparing the farrowing pen with guard rails to prevent piglet crushing

6. Record Keeping

Important records to maintain include:

• Breeding dates and mating records
• Farrowing dates and litter size
• Piglet birth weight and weaning weight
• Feed consumption records
• Health and vaccination records
• Income and expense records

A farmer has a lactating sow with 9 piglets. According to the textbook, how much feed should the sow receive daily?

From Table 7.3 in the textbook, for a litter of 9 piglets, the sow requires 6 kg of feed per day.

The farmer should:

1. Provide 6 kg of balanced feed daily
2. Ensure fresh clean water is always available
3. Monitor the sow's body condition
4. Gradually reduce feed by 1 kg per day at weaning until only 2 kg per day remains

• Proper housing with adequate space and ventilation is essential for pig health
• Piglets need colostrum, iron injections, and proper identification shortly after birth
• Balanced feeding at each production stage maximizes growth and productivity
• Preventive health measures (vaccination, deworming, hygiene) are more effective than treatment
• Good records help identify problems and improve farm management

If you decide to start a small piggery at home or school, these husbandry practices will guide your daily activities. For example, if you keep a sow that gives birth to 10 piglets, you would need to ensure each piglet receives colostrum within hours, inject iron to prevent anemia, clip their needle teeth, and properly wean them at 4 weeks.记录每只猪的出生日期和饲料摄入量，帮助你预测何时可以出售育肥猪——例如，在良好管理下，猪通常在5-6个月内达到出栏体重，此时可在当地市场卖出约150,000-200,000先令的价格。