Boars are usually culled or sent for slaughter at 30 to 36 months of age.
Breeding pigs is not simply a matter of putting boars and sows together. If you are starting out as a pig farmer, you should first gain experience by buying a few piglets to rear and market before tackling the far more complex process of breeding pigs.
Once you feel ready for the next step, buy a young boar that has grown at an above average rate and has converted food into muscle rather than fat at a good feed-to-growth ratio. It should also have no physical or other flaws such as extreme aggression. Landrace and Large White breeds are recommended for the novice pig breeder.
A piggery of about 20 pigs should have three boars: a lighter boar for younger and lighter sows, an older and heavier boar for large sows, and a third boar as a back-up in case one of the others is injured or unwell.
A boar is usually culled and sent for slaughter at 30 to 36 months of age.
In the previous issue, we discussed introducing a boar to breeding. This week, we look at the basics of boar care.
GOOD HYGIENE
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin 28 April 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin 28 April 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
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Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
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Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
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Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
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THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
