Once you have made up your mind to make a small swine farm, it is very important that you first try to learn all the necessary aspects related to it, such as the proper care of the animals and the correct farming techniques. Below are some of the terms that you should know.
The most basic thing is that you know how to distinguish pigs according to their sexes even if most people do not really care about this and often call them by their generic names. Shoats or piglets are those that are very young still and have not been weaned yet. If the piglet has just been born, it could be called a sucker pig.
It is when the pig has matured that other terms are given to differentiate it according to its gender. Male pigs that could already start breeding are called boars. Some farmers opt to castrate a male pig even before it reaches puberty and this makes the animal a barrow. Castrated male pigs have alterations in their hormonal makeup. Because of this, they tend to be less temperamental and are quieter and they turn out to have better meat and scent too.
Female pigs have different names also. A young female pig, for example, that has not yet experienced mating and has not yet given birth is called a gilt but the term is sometimes used to refer to those that have had only a litter. A sow, on the other hand, is a female pig that has given birth to many piglets and is already being considered as a breeder by the farmer.
Pigs are not given names based on their sex but also on their purpose from the perspective of the farmer or the business. A very young pig that is slaughtered because it provides a tender meat is called a suckling by meat shop businesses. One that weighs between 65 pounds and 120 pounds is called a porker while one that weighs between 150 to 180 pounds is called a baconer by both breeders and marketers. It is clear that the main reason for the different names is the value of the pig in the market.
In addition to terms describing pigs, you need to learn the names of swine waste management systems. Controlling swine waste is a big part of being a hog farmer. Typically there are two types of systems, a deep pit system or a waste lagoon. Each of these containment systems need to be treated properly in order to avoid common problems such as foaming, crusting and deep levels of sludge. Using a product such as the natural, chemical-free AgraSphere can help keep these systems balanced.
The most basic thing is that you know how to distinguish pigs according to their sexes even if most people do not really care about this and often call them by their generic names. Shoats or piglets are those that are very young still and have not been weaned yet. If the piglet has just been born, it could be called a sucker pig.
It is when the pig has matured that other terms are given to differentiate it according to its gender. Male pigs that could already start breeding are called boars. Some farmers opt to castrate a male pig even before it reaches puberty and this makes the animal a barrow. Castrated male pigs have alterations in their hormonal makeup. Because of this, they tend to be less temperamental and are quieter and they turn out to have better meat and scent too.
Female pigs have different names also. A young female pig, for example, that has not yet experienced mating and has not yet given birth is called a gilt but the term is sometimes used to refer to those that have had only a litter. A sow, on the other hand, is a female pig that has given birth to many piglets and is already being considered as a breeder by the farmer.
Pigs are not given names based on their sex but also on their purpose from the perspective of the farmer or the business. A very young pig that is slaughtered because it provides a tender meat is called a suckling by meat shop businesses. One that weighs between 65 pounds and 120 pounds is called a porker while one that weighs between 150 to 180 pounds is called a baconer by both breeders and marketers. It is clear that the main reason for the different names is the value of the pig in the market.
In addition to terms describing pigs, you need to learn the names of swine waste management systems. Controlling swine waste is a big part of being a hog farmer. Typically there are two types of systems, a deep pit system or a waste lagoon. Each of these containment systems need to be treated properly in order to avoid common problems such as foaming, crusting and deep levels of sludge. Using a product such as the natural, chemical-free AgraSphere can help keep these systems balanced.
About the Author:
Lianne Derocco enjoys writing about products used in livestock waste treatment. To get additional information regarding waste water hog maintenance, or to find out more about products such as hog pit cleaner, please go to the BioverseAG.com website now.
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