Explore all the information onSwine management
Pig production is the systematic rearing of pig breeds on scientifically based management principles for economic benefit. The main objectives of pig production are to provide consumers with pig meat and related products and to generate income for farmers.
Pig production plays a significant role in the livestock industry, providing an important source of protein and other valuable products. The systematic approach to pig rearing ensures that the pigs are healthy and well-cared for, which in turn leads to better quality products and higher yields. The focus on scientific principles and efficient management helps to reduce waste and increase profitability for farmers.
A swine producer who masters the art of good management has excellent profit opportunities. This is especially true with disease prevention and control. A healthy herd of good-growing, quality breeding animals — adequately fed and housed — provides maximum profit opportunities for the owner who does not over-spend for facilities and/or feed.
Introduction: Variability of post-weaning growth can result in either an increase in the sale of lighter-weight pigs or an extended finishing period. This poses management challenges as to what is the optimal strategy for de-stocking finishing buildings in order to produce the optimal financial return per finishing pig place. Materials and Methods: An 1800-finisher pig place straw-bedded, naturally ventilated (ACNV) house managed on an all in-all out basis...
Introduction: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) are two costly diseases affecting the swine industry. Veterinarians have developed strategies to control and eliminate these diseases, however, the risk of re-infection remains high as proven by the recent epidemic of PED in America. A PRRS and PED regional control program was established in the central northwestern part of Colombia. As part of this project, production animal...
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Introduction: The interpretation of the ELISA or PCR results for PCV2 detection is often difficult. The aim of the study was to compare PCV2 seroconversion, viremia, shedding in feces and presence in oral fluid in three Polish farms. Materials and Methods: The serum, feces and oral fluid samples were obtained from two, two site farms with low level of biosecurity and hygiene (farm 1 and farm 2), and from one farrow-to-finish farm with very high...
Introduction: Little is known about oral fluid qPCR for PCV2, viral load and threshold values associated with clinical or sub-clinical disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of OF-based surveillance of PCV2 shedding on farms with or without clinical or subclinical PCVD. Materials and Methods: Shedding of PCV2 in OF was monitored at 2-weekly intervals in six wean-to-finish all-in-all-out farms. Sampling commenced at arrival (28...
At this year’s Expana Executive Conference in Las Vegas, the atmosphere was clear: meat is back, and so is consumer demand for high-quality animal protein. As Owen Wright summarized in his event highlights, the mood among senior leaders in the animal protein industry was a mix of cautious...
Introduction: Ascaris suum infections remain an important threat to the pig industry. A number of studies have been done in the last years regarding diagnosis, treatment and control. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of A. suum in Belgium and to identify associations with farm management practices. Materials and Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2015, 162 commercial pig herds in Belgium were randomly selected...
Introduction: Profitability of finishing pig production is determined by relatively small differences in physical performance of Key Profit Determining factors together with market prices of inputs and output. Many producers – at best have batch performance data – this is derived too late for positive interventions to be made to influence performance. What is required is derivation of meaningful data during the production of a batch of pigs enabling corrective...
A. COMMON STRESSORS IN SWINE FARMING B. FACTORS LEADING TO STRESS IN SWINE C. PHASE WISE THERMONEUTRAL ZONA ...
Introduction With the increasing demand for animal protein projected for the next decades as world’s population increases, the perceived antagonism between intensive animal production and climate change will intensify. It is estimated that livestock agriculture accounts for 14% of total CO2 emissions of which 1.4% can be attributed to pig production (FAO, 2020, IPCC, 2019 and 2022). Social pressure, policy making, carbon tax and sustainable financial investing will necessitate...
1. Introduction Approximately sixty percent of rural households in developing countries are partially or fully dependent on livestock for their livelihoods [1]. Livestock rearing provides the household with a wide range of benefits, such as cash income, food, manure, draft power and hauling services, savings and insurance, and social status [2]. The livestock farming sector, including piggery remains critically important for millions of people in developing countries...
Introduction: A repeat-breeding (RB) occurrence increases non-productive days of female pigs (NPD), and consequently decreases herd productivity. However, characteristics of RB female pigs are not well defined or studied in swine. Also, few studies have compared lifetime reproductive performance between RB and non-RB female pigs. Our objectives were 1) to define and characterize RB occurrences using data from commercial farms in southern EU, 2) to examine factors...
Introduction: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is considered one of the most economically important infectious diseases of swine. PRRSV is divided into European (Type I) and American (Type II) genotypes. PRRS is caused by a single stranded positive-sense RNA enveloped virus with a high mutation rate leading to greater heterogeneity of the nucleotide sequence between the individual strains. The high genetic virus diversity increases the risk of reduced...
Anna Turvoll (Völur) discusses the use of data (carcass, weight, fat percentage, etc.) and artificial intelligence on a solution to improve scheduling, yield, stock control, and margins, in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA....
Introduction: Owing to inexperience with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) but building on experience with Transmissible Gastro-Enteritis (TGE), North American producers utilized various methods of whole-herd exposure and sanitation to eliminate PED virus from sow herds. Compared to continuous farrow flows, elimination was easier in group-mating systems due to the inherent break in piglet ages/flow. Age-segregated flows with movement at weaning to off-site nurseries were easier...
Introduction: Introduction of gilts into a swine farm always conveys the risk of disease introduction into the recipient herd and, consequently, from a regional perspective, disease introduction into clusters of neighboring farms. In several areas in North, Central and South America, the swine industry is organized in projects of PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) control by regions. These projects allow for coordinated actions to control PRRS and for sharing...
Introduction: There is a need for ante-mortem Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) diagnostic sampling protocols to determine if populations are negative (≤1% prevalence (Pr)), remain negative over time, and to detect early infection to prevent spread. A recent study showed that increased sample size resulting from ante-mortem laryngeal swab sampling (LS) combined with pooling allowed for a higher herd detection rate by PCR while pursuing the most economical...
Introduction: The oral cavity of animals harbors an extensive microflora, including indigenous commensals and other microorganisms. Oral microbiota may play an important role in the protection of the host against pathogenic infection through the inhibition of colonization of pathogens or growth competition. Especially, the composition of oral microbiota of piglets at the nursery phase, at the critical time to establish a normal flora for life-time, would be drastically altered...
John Carr (Apiam Animal Health/James Cook University) comments on his experience as a consultant and working with clients, during this Swine It interview with host Laura Greiner....
Mobile slaughtering and direct farm sales –in Hall 26 – Lectures from science and industry – EuroTier 2024: 12 to 15 November in Hanover, Germany– World's leading trade fair for animal farming and livestock management – More than 2,100 registered exhibitors from 52...
Mike Tokach (Kansas State University) talks about sow body condition and its effect on reproductive performance, during the Nutrimas workshop....