Series of professional monographs, in which the papers deal with development and extension work of professional services for pigs in the rounded form. They are intended for education of farmers and transfer of knowledge between experts and farmers. The 9th part of the monograph covers exlusively themes of the project. The topics discussed are: organization of breeders, perception of pig rearing, overview of used housing and management systems on farms, modifications of breeding tasks, bio-security measures and PRRS.
C.02 Editorial board of a national monograph
COBISS.SI-ID: 125585152Results of experiment in which we tried to organize the technology and health status on pig family farms with joint approach of animal husbandry and veterinary experts are presented. The project involved 16 family farms. On the farms, we record a snapshot of existing situation: inspection of sheds, talk to the farmer and analysis of pig blood and manure samples. Technological measures were proposed to each farmer: the appointment of labour tasks, biosecurity measures and arrangements of stables. We proposed the optimal solutions with respect to the resources of the farmer. Barn rearrangements allowed introduction of multi-week batch farrowing. Samples were examined by the ELISA test for the presence of antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), Salmonella sp. and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP). PRRSV detection was performed by the molecular method reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. It was assessed that the biggest health issue is PRRSV, since 11 farms were seropositive. The PRRSV was eliminated on 5 farms. Improved sow fertility could be result of better health status and changed technology and habits. The number of piglets weaned increased for 0.78 on average and from 0.43 to 2.39 per farm, while weaning-to-conception interval shortened for 3.85 d. Technology improvements were during individual appointments and on workshops also proposed to other pig farmers. Website (http://agri.bf.uni-lj.si/Enota/?q=node/18) with articles and technology manuals was also established.
F.10 Improvements to an existing technological process or technology
COBISS.SI-ID: 3477640The article presents comparison of meatiness of pigs from four pig producers (family farms) with three standards. Standard 1 was lean meat content (LMC) of pigs from slaughter house with the best results, standard 2 was upper 25% of family farms regarding LMC, while standard 3 was average in LMC of all pig farms under recording. The pig producer A had lighter carcasses, pig producers B and C had heavier carcasses. Additionaly, pigs of family farm D were slaughtered in different abattoirs and their results were compared. Distributions for warm carcass weight (WCW) and LMC were compared among family farms, as well as relationship between LMC and WCW. The aim of paper is to encourage pig producers for individual assessment of their own results.
F.17 Transfer of existing technologies, know-how, methods and procedures into practice
COBISS.SI-ID: 3096200Aim of the paper is to present the main tasks in farrowing unit. They are divided into daily and periodic tasks. For a successful production, the hygiene is very important, especially in farrowing unit where newborn piglets are exposed to a new environment. Additionally, the daily tasks are feeding, observation of sows and piglets, piglet fostering and records keeping. Periodic work is tied to the housing, farrowing and weaning. Piglets require special care during and after birth. They need a different environment than sows, application of iron, teeth grinding, tail docking, castrating, and tattooing if needed. Suckling period is critical for the newborn piglets, thus farmers have to be very careful and precise in carrying out tasks. The farmers can introduce weekly rhythm to synchronize work on the farm. Thus, they improve herd health status and increase group size of weanners, especially in small herds.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 3097736Data recording is basis for monitoring of animals, husbandry and selection work, and decision support, for which information systems are used nowadays. For the needs of farmers and professional services in institutions we have developed an information system which in its data storage structure provides all the information recorded on farms.
F.15 Development of a new information system/databases
COBISS.SI-ID: 3369352