Six key prevention measures for raising pigs in winter

Prevent cold feed

In winter, pigs eat mainly to keep out the cold and gain weight, while sows need to ensure the normal growth and development of their fetuses, so energy feed should be appropriately increased when mixing the ration to boost their cold resistance. When feeding, mixed feed is best given raw and dry; if a small amount of water must be mixed in, the water temperature should also be around 25°C. If the balanced feeding method is adopted, the drink should be warm, and it should be given in small amounts and replenished frequently, to prevent cold and freezing.

Prevent cold drinking water

Pigs have a large demand for water, and their need for water is very important. If no water is provided in the pen, pigs will eat snow and ice and drink urine, which will inevitably cause digestive tract diseases or other illnesses. Therefore, warm, clean drinking water must be supplied constantly, both to prevent disease and to meet the pigs' needs.

Prevent wind drafts

In winter, pig houses must have wind holes plugged, straw curtains hung, and windows sealed, to prevent "cross drafts" from blowing in through wind openings such as rat holes, cracks, gaps and broken roofs in the pen. Ventilation holes can be left at a height of at least 1 m above the ground.

Prevent dampness

Keeping the pig pen dry is one of the main measures to ensure the health of live pigs. Air is a heat-conducting substance, and the more humid it is, the stronger its heat conductivity. The pig's body becomes cold, and injuries from crowding and crushing and even death may occur, and diseases are also likely to break out. Therefore, the pen should be bedded frequently to keep it dry, and attention should be paid to training the pigs to defecate and urinate at fixed spots, so that they have a dry place to lie down.

Prevent low temperatures

The most suitable temperature for the growth of live pigs is 15°C-25°C. The temperature for normal growth should generally also be above 8°C. To ensure the normal growth and development of live pigs, the best method is to use warm-shed housing, that is, covering the surrounding roof with relatively thick plastic film. The cover should have a slope of about 30 degrees to facilitate lighting. At noon, if the pen temperature is too high, air should be released for ventilation, and after snow it should be cleared away promptly.

Prevent epidemic diseases

In winter, temperatures are low and the air is dry, so pigs' digestive tract diseases, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases and so on are very likely to occur. For the healthy development of live pig production, the pig pen must be kept clean, tidy and hygienic at all times, and the pens should be scrubbed and disinfected or sprayed with disinfectant on a regular or irregular basis. Pigs should be vaccinated, and commonly used medicines should be kept on hand, so that sick pigs can be isolated and treated early.