Page 124 - Agriculture Form Two

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

(v) Feed store: A piggery should contain a store for feedstuffs.
(vi) Space/office for records: There should be a place for recording farm
information such as feeds and feeding, diseases and parasites, breeds and
breeding, and marketing.
(vii) Space for tools and equipment: The piggery unit should have a place for
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
storing farm tools and equipment.

Exercise 7.3

1. Outline the harmful effects of poor housing on different classes of pigs.
2. Explain the uses of any four equipment found in piggery unit.
3. Discuss how drainage system affect pig production.

Management of different classes of pigs

In the piggery, pigs should be separated into different sections according to their
age or reproductive stage.

Management of piglets
Piglets are young pigs from birth to weaning. A group of piglets born at the same
time from the same sow (mother) is called litter. Good management practices are
crucial for the piglets to grow well and reach the disposal stage. The managerial
practices include colostrum provision and cross-fostering of piglets, tail docking,
iron injection, identification, castration, and teeth creeping. These practices are
elaborated hereunder.
(a) Colostrum provision and cross-fostering of piglets: The young piglets
must get colostrum within 2 to 3 hours after farrowing for high viability.
Tying and dipping of the navel cord in the iodine solution should be done
immediately after birth to prevent infection through the navel. Cross-
fostering should be done shortly after the sow completes farrowing. Cross-
fostering involves even the number of piglets from different sows. It is aimed
to ensure all the piglets can access teats to suckle and ensure that the sows
farrowing few piglets below the average have piglets to nurse.

(b) Tail docking: Tail docking is performed to prevent tail biting among pigs,
which can lead to injuries and infections. The procedure involves removing
a portion of the piglet’s tail using a heated docking iron or surgical scissors.
Figure 7.6 (a) and 7.6 (b) shows a docking process and docked piglets
respectively.

116 Student’s Book Form Two

04/10/2024 18:07
Agriculture form 2.indd 116 04/10/2024 18:07
Agriculture form 2.indd 116