Causes of and Preventive Measures for Pig Biting and Fighting

I. Causes of Pig Biting and Fighting

1. Excessive stocking density: The probability of pigs coming into contact and conflict with each other is also high, and their activity is restricted, which is a trigger for biting and fighting. In addition, pigs have a unique herd-order behavior; after a group of pigs is split into pens, they will initially bite each other, and then establish a clear ranking relationship based on physical strength. If the herd is too large, it is difficult to establish a ranking order, resulting in frequent mutual biting and fighting.

2. Imbalanced feed nutrition: Using non-complete-price feed or feed with an improper nutrient ratio, especially insufficient or improperly proportioned protein, vitamins, minerals, and salt content in the feed.

3. Stress factors such as abnormal weather changes, excessively high temperature, excessive humidity, excessively high concentrations of harmful gases in the barn, excessively strong lighting, and exposure to various frights.

4. Pigs that are not self-bred and self-raised have a peculiar odor when housed together, which also causes biting and fighting. Pigs in the same group rely on smell to identify odors and become familiar with each other. If fattening pigs are not self-bred and self-raised but come from different sources, biting and fighting are likely to occur when the pigs are grouped.

5. Other factors such as too few troughs or insufficient drinking water positions, where pigs fight for food and water, making mutual biting and fighting likely. The presence of internal and external parasites such as lice, sarcoptic mange mites, and roundworms can make pigs' skin itchy and irritable, also leading to biting and fighting.

II. Measures to Prevent Pigs from Biting and Fighting Each Other

1. Stocking density should be appropriate. Large-scale @#@227@#@ requires each pig to occupy 1 sq m of usable area, and the stocking density should not be too high.

2. The rearing group should be reasonable. If pigs kept in the same pen differ greatly in body weight, the smaller and weaker pigs often become the targets of biting. Once one pig is bitten, the group will attack it together, developing into mutual ear biting and tail biting. Pigs should be grouped and raised according to similar source, body weight, physique, temperament, and feeding habits, with about ten pigs per group being appropriate.

3. Feed nutrition should be comprehensive. If nutrition is deficient, it will not only affect the growth and development of pigs but also cause pigs to bite each other. Therefore, compound feed with comprehensive nutrition should be fed according to the needs of pigs at different growth stages, especially ensuring no deficiency of protein, vitamins, and trace elements.

4. Feeding methods should be appropriate. Sufficient feeding methods must be adopted to avoid pigs experiencing a strong sense of hunger. Where conditions permit, pig farms can regularly feed wild grass, green grass, and other green, succulent feed into the pens at fixed times and in fixed amounts for pigs to pick at.

5. Deworm regularly and dock tails in a timely manner. Pigs should be dewormed preventively on a regular basis in spring and autumn each year. For internal parasites, deworming is generally carried out 3 times. The first deworming is at 30 days of age, the second deworming at 60-70 days of age, and the third deworming at 100-110 days of age. Breeding pigs should be dewormed 2 times per year. Deworming drugs can include levamisole, albendazole, and ivermectin, etc. Piglets should have their tails docked within 1-2 days after birth.