Monogastric Production A.S. 2175 Swine Section INTRODUCTION

Introduction What do you think when you hear or see the word “pig?” Perhaps on occasion your mother indicated you were as ‘dirty as a pig.’ Actually pigs are good housekeepers. Maybe you have been accused of ‘eating like a pig’ or ‘messy as a pig.’ What is the implication? Pigs are nibblers Pigs generally do a good job of eating a balanced meal.

Other Thoughts About Pigs Stinks like a pig Nearly everyone agrees that pig poop does stink. Years ago the most common response to “pigs stink” was they actually “smell like money.” Today due to environmental concerns “smells like money” is not a satisfactory response to public complaints regarding hog odor.

Fat as a pig Dietary implications: Pork is too fat Pork is detrimental to good health Pork is high in saturated fat Pork is high in cholestrol Pork causes trichinosis

Pork is nutritious Excellent source of protein, B-vitamins and trace minerals “America is Leaning on Pork” “Pork the Other White Meat” Some feel today’s pork is actually too lean.

Pork is nutritious (continued) Percent saturated fat is similar to beef (34 vs 36%, respectively) and only slightly higher than chicken (34 vs 28%, respectively). Cholesterol content is similar to beef and chicken: 72 vs. 73 and 76 mg, respectively. Trichinosis is only a problem with uncooked pork or garbage-fed pigs.

Other thoughts about pigs Pigs are intelligent Pigs are curious Pigs and people have similarities

Zoological Scheme Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata (backbone) Class: Mammalia (warm blooded, hairy, suckle their young) Order: Artiodactyla (even toed, hoofed) Family: Suidae (non-ruminant, artiodactyla)

Zoological Scheme Continued Genus: Sus (swine) Species: Sus scrofa (wild hog of continental Europe) Species: Sus vittatus (East India Pig)

Overview of the Swine Enterprise Swine eat large amounts of grain (concentrates). Swine are efficient converters of feed to food (3.0-3.5:1.0) Swine provide quick returns on investment. The swine enterprise can easily be expanded or reduced in size because of the short generation interval. Swine have the biological ability to average 2.5 litters per year.

Swine Enterprise Continued Swine have multiple births per farrowing (prolific). Historically hogs have been a profitable farm enterprise and have often been referred to as the “mortgage lifter.” In addition to supplying a market for grain, swine also provide a market for labor and capital. The average salvage value of breeding stock is high compared to other farm livestock.

Swine Enterprise Continued Swine can utilize waste products, such as: bread, cull potatoes, and poor quality grains. Swine aid in maintaining soil fertility; however, waste handling requires environmental considerations. Swine utilize little roughage. Swine can damage the land. Swine require good management (shelter, protection from diseases and parasites, etc.).

Major Types of Swine Operations Commercial producer Farrow-to-finish (FTF) Feeder pig producer (FPP) Feeder pig finisher (FPF) Seedstock producer Purebred breeder Hybrid breeder PIC, Genetipork, Monsanto, etc.

What portion of swine producers raise breeding animals? Seedstock producers constitute about 2-3% of all swine operations.

How many pigs can one person raise? Estimated labor per pig marketed and average size of the swine operation per FTE: FTF 2.0-2.5 hrs/pig; 75-125 sows FPP 1.0-1.5 hrs/pig; 125-150 sows FPF .75-1.0 hr/pig; 3,000-4,000

Systems of production Confinement Total Partial Pasture &/or Drylot