How to manage temperature and disinfection well when raising pigs in winter
?How should the temperature be regulated when raising pigs in winter?
Temperature is extremely closely related to the growth, development and health of pigs. Therefore, in pig feeding and management, paying attention to the management and regulation of temperature and creating a suitable temperature for their growth and development is a necessary guarantee for promoting their rapid growth or fattening and for obtaining relatively high economic benefits.
?Ambient temperature
When the outside air temperature is too low, in order to maintain normal body temperature, the pig's body must enhance the oxidative decomposition of substances in the body to produce heat energy to make up for the loss of body heat. Generally speaking, when the air temperature around piglets is 20°C~26°C, the metabolic consumption is relatively low and growth and development are normal. But for large pigs, the metabolic consumption is relatively low at 15°C~20°C, and fattening is normal. Therefore, attention should be paid to doing a good job of cold protection and heat preservation in the pig house (such as covering the pig house with plastic film, etc.) to raise the temperature inside the house. This can not only reduce the metabolic consumption of the pig's body, but also promote its growth and development and fattening.
?Drinking water and feed temperature
In winter, the temperature of drinking water and feed for pigs is also closely related to the growth, development and health of pigs. A lactating sow needs about 17.5~22.5 kg of water and feed per day. If the water temperature and feed temperature are 0°C, then to raise the temperature of this water and feed to the body temperature level of 39°C, the pig's body will have to consume 682~878 kcal of heat energy, which is equivalent to needing 0.5~0.75 kg of concentrate feed every day to be wasted on maintaining body temperature, and it cannot be used for lactation, growth and development, and fattening. Therefore, when feeding pigs in winter, it is necessary to often feed warm feed and warm water. This can reduce feed consumption and improve feeding benefits.
When raising pigs in winter, pay attention to ventilation and disinfection
The temperature in winter is relatively low, and many pig farmers often only pay attention to the heat preservation of the pig house while ignoring ventilation and air exchange inside the house, thereby causing a large accumulation of pollutants in the air and leading to pigs becoming ill. Therefore, in winter pig raising, ventilation and disinfection work cannot be ignored. Because in winter the pen needs to be heated and kept warm and is in a relatively closed environment, this will greatly increase the indoor content of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and inhalable particulate matter. These harmful substances will cause irritating damage to the pig's respiratory system and a decline in immunity, increase the chance of respiratory diseases, and also worsen the symptoms of existing diseases and make them difficult to cure.
In addition, in winter the air inside the house is too dry, and the probability that bacteria and viruses floating in the air attach to the body is also greatly increased, which can easily cause large-scale reproduction of microorganisms and pathogens, thereby causing pigs to suffer from many kinds of diseases. Therefore, timely ventilation and disinfection of pig pens are very important.
The main points to note for ventilation and disinfection of pig pens in winter are as follows:
?Timely ventilation
When the temperature is relatively higher at noon, open the window a small crack for ventilation for 1 hour. According to surveys, in indoor spaces without air circulation, virus and bacteria droplets in the air can float for more than 30 hours. If doors and windows are often opened for air exchange, the stale air can drift away at any time, and the room can also get sufficient light, which can make it difficult for many kinds of viruses and pathogens to breed and reproduce.
?Regular disinfection
Regularly disinfect the inside of the house, which can promote healthy growth of pigs. Disinfectants should be used in rotation, and the dosage should be determined according to the instructions. Do not increase the dose without authorization. Before disinfection, be sure to clean thoroughly. During disinfection, make the floor look as if a light drizzle has fallen on it. It should not be too wet (pigs are prone to diarrhea) or too dry (disinfection will not work). Every corner must be disinfected thoroughly. During disinfection, the nozzle should be kept above the pigs so that the liquid falls slowly. Do not spray disinfectant directly at the pigs' bodies.
Prevent freezing
In winter, disinfection outside the house is very difficult, especially the disinfection pool set up at the passage entering the farm area and pig house, which may freeze in winter. For this situation, some salt can be sprinkled into the disinfectant solution so that it will not freeze.
In addition, attention should also be paid to frequently changing the disinfectant solution in the disinfection pool to prevent the medicine from expiring and causing reduced or lost efficacy.