What are the key points of growth-finishing pig breeding management
I. Scientific regulation of feeding and management
The most suitable temperature for pig growth is 15-21°C. When the barn temperature is higher than 25-30°C, appetite and feed intake will decline. Therefore, during feeding, attention should be paid to:
1. Reasonable feed delivery and feeding times should focus on two periods: namely 5:00-7:00 in the morning and after 16:00 in the afternoon. Because the weather is cool during these periods, pigs have a good appetite and eat quickly. The feeding amount should be supplied strictly according to their growth and development requirements at different stages, and overfeeding must be avoided.
2. In summer, the temperature is high and solar radiation is strong. Various nutrients in feed are easily lost when storage conditions are poor. Fresh feed should be ensured when used. If bagged feed cannot ensure that the feed tower is shaded from light, it is best to bag it for standby use to prevent the feed from being affected by high temperatures and causing the loss of vitamins and other nutrients.
3. The high-temperature and high-humidity climate in summer can easily cause feed to mold. Therefore, the corners and gaps of feed buckets and feed troughs should be cleaned regularly. After each feeding, feed scattered on walkways and railings should be promptly swept up and collected to prevent moldy and deteriorated feed from being mistakenly eaten and causing discomfort in the pig herd.
4. Supply sufficient clean drinking water. In summer, the drinking water of finishing pigs should be increased by 35% compared with usual. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently check whether drinking water pipes and drinking nipples are blocked, and keep water bowls clean and free of dirt. The water output of drinkers should be controlled at more than 2L/min.
5. Appropriately reduce the stocking density of finishing pigs, preferably 1.25-1.5 m2 per pig. Excessive density is not conducive to keeping the pig herd quiet, and it also makes cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection work more difficult. Especially when unexpected noises occur, high-density pig herds are more likely to trigger “herd stampedes.” In panic, pigs huddle and squeeze each other, which is not conducive to the growth and development of finishing pigs.
6. Do a good job in cleaning, sanitation, epidemic prevention, and disinfection inside and outside the farm. Ensure there is no garbage around the barns, no floating objects in rivers and ditches, and frequently clean places prone to breeding mosquitoes and flies. Miscellaneous items in the farm should be stacked neatly. It is strictly forbidden to raise other livestock, poultry, and pets in the production area, and unrelated personnel are strictly forbidden to enter and leave the breeding farm at will. Pig entry and exit and feed trucks arriving at the farm should be disinfected before entering, and the pig loading dock should be cleaned and disinfected in a timely manner.
II. Use wet curtain fans to prevent heat and cool down the finishing pig herd
1. Cooling principle. There are four ways for the pig body to dissipate heat: radiation, convection, conduction, and evaporation. Summer temperatures are relatively high, so artificial auxiliary methods are needed to lower the barn temperature and ensure the balance of physiological metabolism of finishing pigs at normal body temperature. According to the pig house area and stocking density, installing a wet curtain fan cooling system in the pig house is currently a relatively common and feasible practice in the breeding industry. That is, in the high-temperature summer season, cooling measures using longitudinal ventilation and water curtain cooling are adopted to reduce the impact of high temperature on meat pig growth. Its principle: when dry hot air enters the pig house, it passes through the wet curtain for cooling and humidification, so that the air enters the pig house after being cooled. Then, while the fan discharges it from the barn, it takes away heat, thereby achieving the purpose of cooling the barn, generally reducing the barn temperature by 5-8°C.
2. Correct use of longitudinal ventilation and wet curtain cooling
In summer, when the temperature inside the pig house reaches 25°C, start using longitudinal ventilation. As the temperature rises, according
to the body weight of the pig herd, the number of exhaust fans to be turned on should be adjusted properly.
When the temperature inside the barn reaches 30°C, start using the wet curtain. However, note that after the wet curtain is used, the temperature inside the barn will drop rapidly by 2-3°C,
and the temperature and the number of exhaust fans should be adjusted accordingly to reduce stress from temperature differences.
When using the wet curtain, in order to ensure the effect of longitudinal ventilation, the air inlet windows on both sides of the pig house should all be closed, thereby improving the efficiency of directional circulation of air inside and outside the barn through the wet curtain and enhancing the cooling effect.
The water used for the wet curtain should always be kept clean, preferably circulating water with a filtration system. It is also recommended to thoroughly clean it about once every 3d, and regularly add neutral non-corrosive disinfectants to the wet curtain water for disinfection.
Do a good job in the maintenance and care of the wet curtain and give full play to its role. When the wet curtain is damaged, leaking air, or seriously leaking water, it cannot play a good role in cooling and humidifying.