Sow yards

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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4

Volume 8

Number 6 1967 Article 8

1-1-1967

Sow yards Sow yards

P McNamara

Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Construction Engineering and Management Commons, and the Other Animal Sciences Commons

Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

McNamara, P (1967) "Sow yards," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol.

8: No. 6, Article 8.

Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol8/iss6/8

This article is brought to you for free and open access by the Agriculture at Digital Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected].

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PIGS

SOW YARDS

By P. McNAMARA, M.A. (Cantab.), Adviser, Pig Husbandry

THE sow is the production u n i t in the pig enterprise and she must be carefully managed and fed b o t h when s u c k l i n g and in the dry period.

The need for good farrowing accommo- dation is well appreciated, but all too

often the sow is neglected in the dry period, although it is then that she needs good management and feeding to enable her to produce well a t the next farrowing.

The use of a sow yard enables the management of the breeding herd to be closely controlled, matings to be carried out correctly, and sows to be given the right amount of feed. Close control of the breeding herd Is essential if an intensive unit is to be supplied with pigs at planned intervals, and with a sow yard this task is made much easier.

Layout (See diagram)

Any high-roofed building can be used for the main yard; its width will deter- mine whether a lean-to is required or not.

Sow yards w i t h individual feeders allow complete control o f the breeding herd. Sows can easily be i d e n t i f i e d , mated when required and fed according to c o n d i t i o n . A l l the advantages of extensive management are obtained, but because the sows are constantly being handled in the feeders they are docile and easily managed at farrowing.

If a sow fails t o produce a good litter when managed in this way it is fair t o blame the sow and not the management and the right policy is t o cull her.

A feeding passage separates the holding pens from the individual feeders, which may be constructed entirely of metal, metal and wood, or using solid brick partitions.

The feeding area is raised 6 in. above the sleeping floor. The slope on this floor and the sleeping area is towards the outside yard.

The outside yard acts as a holding yard and exercise ground when sows are kept in. From the yard sows can walk to the paddocks, controlled by electric fences.

The boar pens are placed so that the sows must pass them every time they come in to feed.

Operation

When feeding, sows are shut in their feeders, and here they can easily be identi- fied and fed a ration according to their condition and state of pregnancy. The stalls can also be used to control sows for vaccination and veterinary treatment.

The boar pens are sited so that the boars can see the sows and detect any that require service. With sows passing the boar pens daily, sows in season are quickly spotted, and with every sow fed separately each will get the correct ration for her stage of pregnancy.

If it is desired to run a boar with a bunch of in-pig sows for exercise and company he can easily be let out when they leave in the morning and returned to his pen in the evening at feeding time.

Normally the sows will sleep in the sow house at night, having the run of the yard. After feeding, any sows that are

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40'

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HOLDING PENS

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PASSAGE INDIVIDUAL SOW FEEDERS

j Gate at one end

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for easy cleaning SLEEPING AREA with tractor

ROOF BOAR YARD

6' u 6'

GATE YARD

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BOAR

YARD ROOF

DRAIN

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required to be detained are left in their be in season in the evening it will mean feeders while the main herd goes out to she is probably just coming into season, the paddock. With these out of the way, so it would be better to hold her in a pen for it is easy to move the remaining pigs as service the next day. All sows are served required. again on the day following the first service, held in the pens for at least 24 hours then Introduction of sows and mating allowed back into the paddock.

4 ™*~ • m J J • - , J 4. 4.V. The date on which a sow would be A sow is weaned and introduced to the „™,Q„<.QJ f„ ,«*,,TO ««, „„+«,* „r, <•»,«. v,™,.^

™m . . J J i «. j-i i « j T, expected to return is noted on the board, r n l ^ f J ? ^ ^ S f m ° ^ . g d; * S and on this day the pigman will pay

£ ™ i ? i ^ ^ f e »houW have vetoed p a r t l c u l a r attention to this animal for S ^ i 1 £?* ^ K6^ ?6* ™6 1 1 «*? Sgns of heat. Even if she shows no signs S S L d*f l? ld?y» ,8 hi , ' 21 1 T ! f *° of coming into season on this occasion he E n ' a £ c t ^ " ^ b e °o t e d o n a notes the possible date for the next heat board at the end of the sow house. b e f o r e h e £e c l a r e s h e r d e f l n l t e l y m p i g.

If a sow is noted to be In season in the About a week before the farrowing date, morning she is kept back and mated that SOws are retained in their feeders after day, after which she is placed In one of feeding, washed and introduced to the the holding pens. If she Is first seen to farrowing pens.

1967 BACONER CARCASE COMPETITION

T h e West Australian Branch of the Australian Pig Society will again hold a baconer carcase competition this year. This is the 2 0 t h year of the competition.

A display of the carcases will be held at the W . A . Meat Export Works, Robb Jetty, on Thursday, September 2 8 , 1 9 6 7 . Cuts from all judged entries will be on show from 2 p.m.

and prizes will be presented at 2 . 3 0 p.m. All interested are invited to attend.

Conditions of the competition a r e : —

1 . The Competition will be conducted in two sections as follows:—

Section A — I n d i v i d u a l carcases. Section B—Group of three carcases.

2 . Each entry to consist of one animal.

3 . Entries will be accepted only for pigs sired by pure-bred boars.

4 . The owner of the entries must have been the breeder.

5. Competition is RESTRICTED to one Competitor from any one property who may submit up to FOUR ENTRIES. Entries of three or four from one property automatically compete in Section B.

6 . To be eligible for the Competition, the carcases must come within a weight range of 1 2 0 - l b . to 1 6 0 - l b . chilled. Dressed weight to include head.

7 . The carcases will be judged by the West Australian Modified Hammond Appraisal System (viz. 1 9 6 3 ) .

8 . The Judges' decision shall be final; any dispute or other matter not provided for in these conditions shall be decided by the Committee.

9 . Pigs are to be despatched to Watsons, Spearwood, and will be received at these works from May 2 2 to September 6, 1 9 6 7 (both dates inclusive).

1 0 . The animals will be held for 4 8 hours before slaughter.

1 1 . Any contract of sale or purchase of the carcases shall be made between the entrant and the killing works at which the pigs are slaughtered.

1 2 . Completed entry form(s) must be made on the printed entry form and all par- ticulars set out on that form must be completed and should arrive at the Australian Pig Society, c / - Royal Agricultural Society, Perth, Box W 2 0 2 5 , G.P.O., Perth, 3 days before the pig(s) concerned is received at the killing works.

1 3 . Intending competitors must advise Watsons, Spearwood, when pigs are being con- signed, full details regarding numbers being forwarded, whether by rail or road, and identi- fication marks.

Further details are available from the office of the Australian Pig Society, c / - The Royal Agricultural Society, 2 3 9 Adelaide Terrace, Box W 2 0 2 5 , G.P.O., Perth, Telephone 2 3 2 9 5 1 , or the State Representative, Australian M e a t Board, 194 St. George's Terrace, Perth, Telephone 2 1 9 0 5 5 , or Department of Agriculture, Jarrah Road, South Perth, Tele- phone 6 7 1 8 4 1 .

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