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SUBJECT: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
CLASS: SS 1
TOPIC: Management of livestock – PIG and RABBIT MANAGEMENT:
PIG MANAGEMENT: Pigs are non-ruminant animals. The two main species of pig are Sus scrofa and Sus vittatu. These are very prolific animals because they mature quickly between 8 – 9 months. They have short gestation period of 114 days. They are very good and efficient converters of feed into meats.
Breeds of Pigs:
- Landrace
- Duroc jersey
- Large white
- Large black
- Hampshire
- Welsh
- Chester white
- Berkshire
- Poland china
- Essex saddle back
- Wessel saddle back
- West African Dwarf
- Tamworth
- Saddle back
SYSTEMS OF REARING PIGS:
The systems are basically Extensive, Semi-intensive and Intensive systems.
Extensive System:
Like other farm animals the animals are allowed to fend for themselves. They do not attract any attention in terms of housing, feeding, health care. This system affects the growth rate of the animals.
Semi-intensive System:
In this system pigs are reared partly indoor and partly outdoor. The female pig with or without the male pigs are allowed to run outside. In this system labour requirement is low and less feed is required as the pigs grace for food.
Intensive System: In this system pigs are completely raised in houses with concrete floors. This allowed for easy daily cleaning. Feeds, water, medications are provided daily in adequate quantity and good sanitation is maintained. Feeds conversion is high, hence growth rate is also high. The system is capital intensive.
HOUSING:
The pen is divided into unit depending on the on the functions they serve. For example:
- Farrowing Pen: For delivering of the litters
- Litter Pen: Where newly delivered are kept and given adequate care
- Mating pen: Where mating between a male and a female pig is done.
- Growers Pen: Where piglets are kept and given adequate care
- Isolation pen: where sick animals are kept and treated.
While constructing a pig pen, ensures that the walls is built with blocks and iron bars, the roof made with iron sheets or asbestos, the pen well ventilated, the gates should be strong, litters are provided as beddings, shade to keep the building cool all the time.
FEEDING:
Pigs are voracious. They feed on concentrates; tubers like cassava, yam, cocoyam; maize, sorghum and household left over. Occasionally vegetables are supplied to provide vitamins and minerals. At different stages pigs are fed with different type of rations. Piglets are given Creep feeding 2 weeks after farrowing.
HYGIENE:
Pig pens need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the occurrence of diseases. The following should be done on regular basis.
- Clean the pen regularly
- Change on the wallow on regular basis
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