Are Fast-Growing Pigs Force-Fattened? Interpreting Feed Management and Disease Medication
In recent years, with rapid economic development and continuously improving living standards, pork consumption has gradually increased. Traditional farming methods can no longer meet demand, and modern farming characterized by moderate intensification has emerged.So are the pigs raised today growing fast because they are force-fattened? Are there management requirements for the feed they eat? What injections and medicines are given when they get sick?
Are the pigs raised today growing fast because they are force-fattened?
1. The fast growth of modern pigs is mainly due to advances in genetic breeding technology for breeding stock. During more than 10,000 years of domestication, pigs have undergone many changes: reproductive performance has improved, growth speed has become faster, and meat quality has changed. At present, the vast majority of pigs in China are produced by crossbreeding introduced breeds such as Duroc, Landrace and Large White. These commercial pigs have the advantages of saving feed grain (a native pig eats 4 jin of feed to gain 1 jin of meat, while a modern Duroc-Landrace-Large White commercial pig eats 2.8 jin of feed to gain 1 jin of meat), fast growth speed (a native pig generally reaches 75 kg in 8 months, while a Duroc-Landrace-Large White commercial pig can reach 120 kg in 6 months), high lean meat yield (the lean meat yield of native pigs is generally around 40%, while that of Duroc-Landrace-Large White commercial pigs can reach more than 60%), and large body size. It is very normal for high-quality breed pigs to be sent to market in about 160 days, and better breeds abroad have even shorter market cycles.
2. The improvement of feed quality has also played a very important role. The application of modern feed science and technology has significantly increased the conversion rate of compound feed in China, from 4:1 to 3:1. In the past, raising a pig took one year; now it can be sent to market in 6 months. This is inseparable from nutritionally balanced feed and advances in farming technology.
3. In addition, by improving the farming environment and implementing harmless treatment of livestock and poultry manure, problems such as major epidemics and antibiotic residues have been gradually resolved. The pig growth cycle has gradually shortened, and pigs can grow to around 100 kg.
Are there management requirements for the feed that pigs raised today eat?
1. Feeding pigs nutritionally balanced feed during farming is an important factor for healthy growth. Feed consists of feed ingredients and feed additives. The feed ingredients and feed additives used in China are subject to a licensing system, meaning only approved ones may be used, and unapproved or prohibited ones may not be used. The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a "Catalog of Feed Ingredients" and updates it from time to time. Substances outside the catalog used as feed ingredients may only be used after scientific evaluation and after being announced and included in the catalog by the Ministry of Agriculture.
2. Feed additives are feed components used in small amounts but with great effect. Without feed additives, it would be impossible to formulate feed that both meets animal needs and is nutritionally balanced. Additives can be divided into three categories: nutritional additives, general additives and medicinal additives. Their proportion in feed generally does not exceed 4%; if the proportion is too high, feeding costs increase, which is not cost-effective for farmers. Traditional single feed can only solve the problem of pigs “eating their fill,” while nutritional additives mainly solve the problem of pigs “eating well.” Adding an appropriate amount of medicinal additives to feed can effectively prevent and control common and frequently occurring diseases in pigs. The state has formulated strict "Specifications for the Use of Feed Medicinal Additives" and implements them in accordance with the provisions of the "Regulations on the Administration of Veterinary Drugs." China explicitly prohibits the addition of sedative-hypnotic and anticonvulsant drugs such as phenobarbital to feed. It is unnecessary to make pigs sleep more and move less to fatten quickly by adding sleeping pills, because penned pigs themselves have very little activity, and there is no need to use sedatives.
3. In order to ensure the quality and safety of feed, the Ministry of Agriculture carries out routine national feed quality and safety monitoring every year. In the first half of 2017, the pass rate of sampled commercial feed of various types was 96.43%. It can be said that China's feed products are generally safe and reliable, and the sustainable and healthy development of the livestock farming industry is guaranteed.
What injections and medicines are given when pigs get sick?
1. When pigs become ill during farming, necessary therapeutic medication is unavoidable, and this is also the case in developed farming countries such as the United States and the European Union. What is given to pigs is veterinary medicine. Usually, in order to prevent healthy pig herds from the risk of infection with infectious diseases, farmers inject preventive vaccines for specific diseases. For major animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, the state adopts compulsory immunization measures to uniformly prevent and control such risks. When pigs suffer from group bacterial diseases or other group diseases, farmers generally feed therapeutic veterinary drugs under the guidance of a veterinarian to prevent and treat the disease. For individual pigs, such as in cases of trauma or difficult birth, specialized treatment is generally carried out by a veterinarian.
2. Veterinary drugs are indispensable important inputs in promoting the safe production and healthy development of the farming industry. According to the "Animal Epidemic Prevention Law" and the "Regulations on the Administration of Veterinary Drugs," medication during animal farming must comply with relevant provisions. First, veterinary drugs approved by the state and meeting quality requirements must be used, and prohibited veterinary drugs or compounds must not be used. Second, human medicines must not be used, and hormone drugs must not be used in feed or drinking water. Third, veterinary prescription drugs must be used according to the prescription of a practicing veterinarian. Fourth, veterinary drugs must be used strictly in accordance with the animal species, indications, usage and dosage, and other contents specified in the veterinary drug instructions, and withdrawal period provisions must be strictly implemented. Fifth, farms/households must establish standardized medication records.
3. At present, China has never approved hormone drugs for animal growth promotion. Approved hormone drugs are mainly used to treat breeding livestock reproduction and obstetric diseases, which is consistent with EU regulations. As of now, the Ministry of Agriculture has only approved more than 10 antibiotics, including oxytetracycline, for use as medicinal feed additives, and has strictly specified the animal species, usage and dosage, withdrawal period, and other contents, with provisions basically in line with international standards.