07-01-2022, 07:45 PM
Breeding the most important aspect of livestock farming..... important because is signifies multiplication and continuity of the farmer's herd
Once a farmer can get breeding right, every other thing falls into place. Infact, breeding practices, to a very great extent, determine the quality and vitality of the next generation of a farmers herd
Its quite unfortunate that a lot of 'breeders' dont usually have standard practices for breeding..... infact most farms don't have a standard practice for anything.
This is very worrisome, especially if we are to take pig farming seriously and transform it from being a hobby to being a business that is profitable and sustainable.
What can a farmer do ensure breeding is done the right way?
: Here are the best things to do if you consider following the breeding route:
: ▪︎If you are raising breeders from weaners (either bought or born on your farm), select females that are bigger, healthier, more shapely and have more teats than the others. These characteristics will ensure that their offspring follow after them. Fine animals born fine animals.... ugly animals do the same??♂️
Don't use any weaner that has had defects from birth or weaning as a breeder.... including runts, hernia, weakness, frequent illness or any abnormalities.
Select weaners from sows that give birth to larger litters..... I advise 10 and above as the standard. This affects generations of sows; offspring tend to farrow like their mothers. Sows that farrow large litters have female children that do same.
Please stop that nonsense talk about 6 piglets being a good thing.... it is not, it is rubbish. Any sow that gives all those small numbers is useless to you and should be culled after the second attempt. I won't discuss this today..... we will talk about this whenever we are discussing finances and Profitability for pig farming
When selecting boars from your weaners, select bigger boars and fine ones like you select females. More importantly, select the males that always try to mount other animals.... they are very sharp and will likely cross gilts/ sows immediately they are placed together
Their testicles should be balanced and complete, they should have good gait and good body...... beautiful and well muscled is the apt term that comes to my mind
Note that Males are very key in the breeding process...... very key.
It is always funny when I see farmers overpricing gilts and relegating boars???when in reality, its boars that do a lot of heavy pulling
One of these days we will have a genetics company hold a meeting with us so we can understand the dynamics of breeding to a large extent
These criteria listed should also be used when purchasing animals from other farms.... don't just buy anything anyone throws at you.... check the quality of the animal. I always cringe when I see ugly animals being put up for sale or bought by people, and I am like, wetin be diswan??. Worse still is when they tag such animals as pure or related to pure ????wahala
When breeding, don't ever breed animals that are related in anyway, whether by father, mother, son, daughter or whatever...... males and females must always be of different stock to avoid inbreeding and the horrible stories that follow it.
Once a farmer can get breeding right, every other thing falls into place. Infact, breeding practices, to a very great extent, determine the quality and vitality of the next generation of a farmers herd
Its quite unfortunate that a lot of 'breeders' dont usually have standard practices for breeding..... infact most farms don't have a standard practice for anything.
This is very worrisome, especially if we are to take pig farming seriously and transform it from being a hobby to being a business that is profitable and sustainable.
What can a farmer do ensure breeding is done the right way?
: Here are the best things to do if you consider following the breeding route:
: ▪︎If you are raising breeders from weaners (either bought or born on your farm), select females that are bigger, healthier, more shapely and have more teats than the others. These characteristics will ensure that their offspring follow after them. Fine animals born fine animals.... ugly animals do the same??♂️
Don't use any weaner that has had defects from birth or weaning as a breeder.... including runts, hernia, weakness, frequent illness or any abnormalities.
Select weaners from sows that give birth to larger litters..... I advise 10 and above as the standard. This affects generations of sows; offspring tend to farrow like their mothers. Sows that farrow large litters have female children that do same.
Please stop that nonsense talk about 6 piglets being a good thing.... it is not, it is rubbish. Any sow that gives all those small numbers is useless to you and should be culled after the second attempt. I won't discuss this today..... we will talk about this whenever we are discussing finances and Profitability for pig farming
When selecting boars from your weaners, select bigger boars and fine ones like you select females. More importantly, select the males that always try to mount other animals.... they are very sharp and will likely cross gilts/ sows immediately they are placed together
Their testicles should be balanced and complete, they should have good gait and good body...... beautiful and well muscled is the apt term that comes to my mind
Note that Males are very key in the breeding process...... very key.
It is always funny when I see farmers overpricing gilts and relegating boars???when in reality, its boars that do a lot of heavy pulling
One of these days we will have a genetics company hold a meeting with us so we can understand the dynamics of breeding to a large extent
These criteria listed should also be used when purchasing animals from other farms.... don't just buy anything anyone throws at you.... check the quality of the animal. I always cringe when I see ugly animals being put up for sale or bought by people, and I am like, wetin be diswan??. Worse still is when they tag such animals as pure or related to pure ????wahala
When breeding, don't ever breed animals that are related in anyway, whether by father, mother, son, daughter or whatever...... males and females must always be of different stock to avoid inbreeding and the horrible stories that follow it.