Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
breeding. Most veterinarians like to visit a herd when it is healthy, so they can size it up. This
gives them something to use as a baseline in case they need to visit when some of your anim-
als are sick. They also can talk to you about preventive care and get to know you better. Hav-
ing a good relationship with your veterinarian is important for both you and your vet.
If you have a sick animal, it is important that you do not wait too long to call the vet. Al-
though there is no need to call the vet every time your pig sneezes, it is important for you to
know your animals well enough to know when something is wrong. If your pig has a fever or
diarrhea, it is probably a good idea for you to call the vet, especially when you are not experi-
enced at raising pigs. If the vet says there is nothing to be worried about, you will feel better.
And if it is a serious illness, the vet will know how to treat it. As you become more experien-
ced in raising pigs, you may be able to distinguish a serious swine disease from one that is not
so serious, but when you are just beginning, it is best to err on the side of caution instead of
risking your herd.
Breeding Pigs
Everyone loves a happy ending, but placing a gilt and boar together is no guarantee that they
will produce piglets. Environment, health, stress, and diet play as big a role in successful
breeding as having a viable couple. Whether you plan to breed right away or over time, it is
important to understand how the reproductive system works in order to maximize the chance
of healthy piglets.
Purchasing a pregnant sow is an alternative way of starting a herd if you want to avoid the
time and headache of matching a gilt and boar. This process works, but it is impossible to es-
timate an outcome for the litter.
Taking care of the litter begins long before a pregnancy starts. A healthy diet, stress-free at-
mosphere, and proper care of the sow before, during, and after pregnancy are the keys to con-
tinued healthy pig production. The better the effort you put into the overall breeding program,
the better your results will be.
CASE STUDY: KEEPING THE GIRLS HAPPY
Noni Mammatt
Australia
