GADVASU PPTAK

Mid-January to February is a good time to start a new farm.
Choose piglets according to expert recommendations.
Only select those sows which are able to raise 9-10 piglets easily.
Get piglets from reputable organizations where complete records are kept.
Piglets should be more than two months old (8 kg weight) in all cases.
Buy male and female piglets from different places. If this is not possible then at least buy piglets of different sows.
Their nipples should be in two rows. These rows should be towards the navel.
The number of teats should not be less than six pairs.

Deworming of all pigs and two-month-old piglets should be done.
Farrowing pen should be clean, germ-free and tick-free.
About 10 days before farrowing, wash the sows with dilute potassium permanganate solution and leave them in the farrowing pen.
Straw can be used as bedding material.
After farrowing clean and dry the newly born piglets properly.
Install a light bulb at two feet high to keep piglets warm.
After farrowing of several sows at the same time, distribute equal number of piglets between all sows.
Cut the needle teeth within two days after birth.
An injection of iron for all piglets at one week of age shall be given.
Start giving solid feed at second week.

Vaccinate two-month-old piglets against 'swine fever'.
Weaning should be done at 25-45 days of farrowing.
Give piglets solid feed consisting of 25-30% crude protein.
Keep piglets up to 2 months of age or up to 20 kg weight in weaning pen and provide feed up to about 750 gm.
Wean the male piglets and castrate them before selling.

Store feed for pigs in a clean and dry place.
Take appropriate measures to minimize visitors on the farm.
Don’t not allow outsiders on the farm so to prevent spread of disease.
Remove dead pigs from farm immediately.
After weaning, the sows come to heat within few days.
Mate the sows in heat from the selected male pigs and record the complete details in the register.
Sows should be kept under close observation for signs of heat after 21-22 days of mating.

Provide adlib water to reduce heat stroke in pigs.
Clean and repair the damaged fans.
Spray suitable medicine on pigs and in pens to control parasites.
Give a second dose of dewormer in this month to keep the growing pigs free from parasites.
Thoroughly clean feeding manger.
Do not give any vaccine to pregnant sows in the first month of gestation to protect them from diseases.

Pigs having running eyes, running nose, showing recumbency with shortness of breath should be examined by doctor immediately.
Provide clean drinking water.
Also get the water quality checked.

Deliberately skip the first heat of adult sows to increase the number of piglets.
Give adult sows good quality feed.
Keep sows that have missed heat together (25-30) with a male pig for 20-25 minutes each day. They will soon be in heat.
There must be one male pig for every 200 female pigs (of all ages) on the farm.
Separate the sows immediately after service.
Always take the sow to the pig’s pen for service.
It is very important to have a worker at the time of service.

Adult sows can be bred at 8-12 months.
Be sure to double check the sow’s nipples during breeding.
Do not use sows for service having extra teat, when the nipple is bent inwards or when excess fat accumulates in the root of the teat.
Start using male pigs at the age of eight months.
Sell the low-yielding pigs.
Also sell pigs that are unable to breed.

Cull the sows that do not come to heat even at the age of eight months.
Inspect all pigs on the farm for skin diseases.
In case of hoof overgrowth, get them trimmed by an experienced worker.
The tusks of male pigs should be removed.
Examine the joints of all pigs. Swelling or hotness in them may be a sign of a dangerous disease.
Be sure to get the flock tested for brucellosis.