GETTING STARTED WITH HOGS January 26, 2013

BY Dr. ART DUCKWORTH APPLE ORCHARD FARM STANLEY, N.C.

SPONSORED BY:

Gaston County Cooperative Extension

Personal or small scale commercial market parameters are those boundaries, either opportunities or constraints, that help answer the who, what, when, where and how questions with regard to the pork products or services you wish to provide.

This session will focus on getting started, how to purchase and raise pigs, common health considerations, production facility and feed options, processing, regulatory parameters and sources of information.

Course Objective: Learn the 7 basic but key considerations to raising hogs.

1. Breed Stock
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Facilities Feed Water Health Processing Husbandry

How many already raising hogs? What breeds? Breeding or buying feeders? Buying or raising feed? Pasture, paddocks, confinement? Organic, sustainable, conventional? Why do you want to raise hogs?

Breed Stock Major breeds: Landrace, Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Poland China, Yorkshire Heritage breeds: Hereford, Large Black, Mulefoot, Red Wattle, and Tamworth

Buy healthy, vet checks recommended Straight bred or crosses, final product
(live or meat) helps determine type or breed o Farrow to wean o Farrow to finish o Wean to finish

Know your sources! Understand Hog behavior

Facilities Pastures and grazing vs confinement Paddocks Housing varies with production goals Variety of fencing options Incorporate catch, handling and loading capability!

Feed Forage not enough, must have supplemental feeds and nutrients Corn, wheat, milo, barley and oats along with soybeans are typical base for carbohydrates and protein Protein needs vary with age/size, 1320% Balance of amino acids critical for muscle formation and protein Commercial feeds vary, watch for added animal proteins and sources

Supplement home grown feeds with vitamins and minerals They are what they eat!

Water Dont forget the water! A pig will typically consume 2-3 times as much water as its daily feed consumption, more in hot weather Water is necessary to maintain body temperature, to carry digested food through the body and to remove body waste Rule of thumb about 2 gallons/day

Health Isolate new animals Vet health certificates 140 known different diseases, most common are: o Brucellosis (Bangs disease, reproductive systems)

o Atrophic Rhinitis (face distortion from rubbing) o Hog Cholera (fever, coma, death) o Parvovirus (reproductive failure) o Pseudorabies (mad itch) o Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) (virus, blue ear) o Erysipelas (bacterial lesions) o Dysentary (bloody diarrhea, black scours) Internal parasites include round worms, lung worms, and stomach worms External parasites include lice, mange, ticks and flies Commercial or natural controls Manage farm visitors and potential for cross contamination from other growers

Processing

Develop relationship with your processors and customers

Know your carcass potential and products Plan for your market and know when to sell

Husbandry Keep good records Know your animals and see them every day Know the trouble signs and take preventive actions Be vigilant and implement protective measures Work safely Resources County Agricultural Extension Livestock Agent Technical Schools Other farmers, get a mentor! Universities

 State Department of Agriculture Web info is unlimited Book, How To Raise Pigs, Philip Hasheider (FFA) Breed organizations NCCHOICES