Hogs descended from the Eurasian Wild Boar. From Asia they spread to Africa and Europe. Hogs came to the United States with the conquistadors. The swine were slaughtered and used for meat and even currency during early settlement. Today hogs are still a major resource in the food industry.The United States hog capital in the world is Kawnee, Illinois. Swine is a major industry in the U.S.
Swine Basic Care
Farmers working with pigs should understand the basic needs of pigs to maintain a healthy animal. They should be able to recognize behaviors and other symptoms that indicates discomfort and disease. Farmers need to know when it is necessary to contact a veterinarian. Knowledge of how a healthy pig behaves is important. Swine should always have a strong healthy appetite. They should maintain a body temperature around 102 degrees f. Respiration rate should be around 15-20 breaths per minute. A normal heart rate is around 58 to 70 beats per minute.
Signs of Illness
A pig that is slow getting up from bed could be a indicator he/she is sick. A loss of appetite and diarrhea is also a sign of a sick piggy. Vomiting, acting depressed, lame or stiff, and acting uncoordinated are also signs that you need to call your veterinarian to give a health exam on your pig. A farmer needs to check their pigs daily and keep records of swine to ensure a healthy hog.
Pork Production
Modern pork has become a source of high quality protein and valuable nutrients such as iron and zinc. These practices have been so successful because of selective breeding, better management systems, advancement in veterinarian medicine, and improved feeding practices. The top three breed of market pigs are Duroc, Hampshire, and Yorkshire.
Housing for Swine
Swine should have adequate conditions to comfort, maintain good health, and performance at all stages of a pigs life. Temperature requirements vary with age, size, and the environment conditions in your area. Pigs of all ages need to be protected from drafts. Protection is extremely important for piglets up to two weeks of age. It is desired to keep pigs in a dust free environment. Until ways of reducing dust in your barn follow simple good house keeping habits. Flooring should be safe for pigs. They need to be a dry well drained surface. A solid non slip floor is also preferable. There should not be any sharp edges that could cause injury to your pigs. They do enjoy laying around a lot. I hope this will help you while caring and raising hogs whether they are pets or you are selling them for meat production.
