Exploratory Agriculture Swine Unit Exploratory Agriculture

Fun Facts Largest pig ever known weighed 1,051 lbs. His name was Big Bill and stood 5’9 at the shoulder. An 11-year-old Alabama boy used a pistol to kill a wild hog

Fun Facts Pigs do not have sweat glands. They are more tolerant of cold weather!

Fun Facts Pigs are very intelligent- they can pick up tricks faster than dogs! Pigs can run a 7 minute mile!

Fun Facts Pigs are very clean-they only roll in the mud to cool off! They keep their toilet and bed in separate areas

Fun Facts Pigs have a very good sense of smell. Pigs have excellent hearing.

Vocabulary Piglet-newborn pig Sow-female pig who has given birth Gilt-female pig who has never given birth

Vocabulary Boar- male pig that is not castrated. Barrow- castrated male pig Wean- separating a piglet from their mother

Vocabulary Gestation- Pregnancy Farrowing- Process of giving birth. Farrowing house- house where sows go to give birth.

Vocabulary Farrowing Crate- enclosure used for farrowing. It helps protect the piglets from getting crushed.

Vocabulary Creep Feeding- Feeding piglets in addition to their mother’s milk. Done in an enclosure so that the mother can’t get to it. Introduces piglets to regular feed

Processing Piglets: At Birth Cut their navels and dip in iodine to minimize infection. Count number of live and dead pigs born.

Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old Sex the piglets Determine if boar or gilt Weigh

Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old 3. Give an iron shot Sow’s milk naturally low in iron Clip Needle Teeth So they don’t hurt sow or other piglets

Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old 5. Clip 1/3 of tail Cleaner pigs and visually appealing 6. Ear Notch Identification Purposes

Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old Give Penicillin Shot Antibiotic to prevent infection

Processing Piglets: 7-10 Days Old Piglets introduced to creep feeding

Processing Piglets: 10-14 Days Old Castrate Boars Not all Boars are castrated Some kept for breeding or show purposes