Swine Production - With Information on the Breeding, Care and Management of Pigs

W. C. Skelley

Description

Contained within this book is a classic guide to keeping pigs for profit or pleasure, exploring subjects including care and health, general management, selection, breeding, and much more. Although old, this handbook contains a wealth of timeless information and will be of considerable utility to modern farmers. Contents include: “Selection Of Breeding Stock”, “Herd Records”, “Management Of The Boars”, “Management Of The Sow Herd”, “Management Of Pigs”, “Principles Of Feeding”, “Feeds For Production Of Pork”, “Rations For Swine Fed In The Dry Lot”, “Rations For Swine That Have Access To Good Pasture”, “Forage Crops For Swine”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on pig farming.

Sujets

• Agronomie
• Agronomy for Sustainable Development
• Agriculture
• Engineering
• Technology
• Sciences et techniques
• Animal Husbandry

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781447484523
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Swine Production
With Information on the Breeding, Care and Management of Pigs
By
W. C. Skelley
CONTENTS
SWINE PRODUCTION
S ELECTION OF B REEDING S TOCK
Selection of Sows
Selection of the Boar
Prolificacy a Primary Factor in Breed-Stock Selection
H ERD R ECORDS
M ANAGEMENT OF THE B OARS
M ANAGEMENT OF THE S OW H ERD
The Breeding Season
Flushing to Increase the Litter
Care of the Sow during Pregnancy
Management at Farrowing Time
Feeding at Farrowing Time
M ANAGEMENT OF P IGS
Orphan Pigs
Creep Feeding
Castration
Weaning
Care of the Pigs after Weaning
The Self-Feeder
P RINCIPLES OF F EEDING
Water
Minerals
Vitamins
Preparation of Feeds
F EEDS FOR P RODUCTION OF P ORK
R ATIONS FOR S WINE F ED IN THE D RY L OT
R ATIONS FOR S WINE T HAT H AVE A CCESS TO G OOD P ASTURE
F ORAGE C ROPS FOR S WINE
H OGGING D OWN C ORN
S OME C OMMON A ILMENTS OF S WINE
Anemia
Rickets or Paralysis
Roundworm
Lice
Mange
S UGGESTED R EADINGS
SWINE PRODUCTION
W. C. S KELLEY
Hog raising is one of the major interests of Professor William C. Skelley, head of the Animal Husbandry Department at Rutgers and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and superintendent of the 1000-acre College Farm. In the former capacity, he has for many years taught Rutgers students, carried on research in the feeding of swine, and worked with and for farmers on problems of hog breeding and pork production. He has given frequent aid to New Jersey s 4-H swine clubs. His standing as a livestock authority has brought him calls to judge the swine classes at many shows, including the Ohio State Fair and the Pennsylvania Farm Products Show. For many years he has been livestock superintendent at the New Jersey State Fair. He is the author of various publications on swine, beef cattle, sheep, and horses. A native of the Buckeye State, reared on an Ohio livestock farm, Professor Skelley is a graduate of Ohio State University and has served on the Rutgers and New Jersey Station staff for 24 years . ( For further biographical information see Chapters XXVIII and XXX .)
S WINE production is one of the largest livestock enterprises in the United States. The reason for this popularity is that the hog matures more quickly and multiplies more rapidly than any other meat-producing animal and that it is adaptable to practically all types and sizes of farm.
To produce swine profitably, intelligent selection of breeding stock, management, sanitation, and feeding must be practiced, so the cost of production will be kept at a minimum.
S ELECTION OF B REEDING S TOCK
Although many persons can see but little merit in any breed except the one in which they are interested through one influence or another, yet the more fair-minded are inclined to agree that there is no best breed under all conditions. Regardless of the breed chosen, more depends upon the conformation of the individuals selected and their strain or blood lines than upon the breed itself.
When there is no marked breed preference and all other things are equal, it is advisable to select the breed that is already most prevalent in the locality, for it is very probable that there are sound economic reasons why one breed predominates. Another important reason is that breeding stock may then be more easily exchanged among the breeders. Also, where only a few sows are owned by each breeder, boars may be purchased in partnership.
In the United States the following breeds are to be found: Duroc Jersey, Poland China, Chester White, Hampshire, Berkshire, Spotted Poland China, Tamworth, and Yorkshire.
In starting a herd it is advisable to use purebred animals, as too much time and money are lost by starting with low-grade sows and expecting rapid improvement by the use of purebred boars.
Selection of Sows
In selecting foundation sows for the herd, attention should be given to the type of animals to be used, as it is an established fact that the so-called present-day type is more profitable than the one of 15 years ago. By present-day type is meant a sow that will produce a litter that will, when put in the feed lot, be finished for market weighing from 200 to 250 pounds per head, at 6 to 7 months of age.
In selecting a sow of this type the following points should be kept in mind. First of all, she should be feminine in her make-up, showing a rather thin neck, clear eyes, and ears of fair size yet controlled so they will not cover the eyes and obstruct the sight. She should be smooth over the shoulders, full and smooth in the heart girth, showing no depression behind the shouldens, and have a well-arched back, smooth deep sides, and well-rounded hams. She should stand on strong legs with good feet and short strong pasterns. The legs should be of sufficient length that the udder will not touch the ground when she matures. The udder should be well developed and have two rows of teats with at least six in each row.
The disposition of the sow should be noted. A cross, nervous, or irritable sow is undesirable and should not be tolerated in the sow herd.
Selection of the Boar
Selecting the boar requires careful study, as he transmits his characteristics to many offspring during his time of service in a herd. If a young pig is to be used, he should not be selected until he is at least 6 months old. At that age, he is generally developed sufficiently to reveal any serious faults. To tell the outcome of a suckling or weanling pig is impossible.
It is advisable when purchasing a boar to examine the sire and dam and other closely related animals in the herd, to see whether they have any serious defects in their conformation. Generally, it is advisable to purchase a tried boar, if one of the right type and conformation can be obtained at a reasonable price, as this gives the purchaser an opportunity to see the offspring of the boar and the type of animals he is siring.