Pig Production

Commercial pig raising is a capital- and labor-intensive business. Success requires a sound combination of business management and pig husbandry knowledge and skills. This course aims at providing participants with in-depth knowledge and skills in Pig husbandry techniques and farm management. It provides adequate knowledge and skills on the various aspects of pig production such as breeds and selection, feeds and feeding, housing, health care, processing and marketing, record keeping and basic pig farm management and economics

Course Objective

This training is expected to equip participants with the right sets of skills and knowledge they need to breed pigs, expose them to the immense financial opportunities involved as well as encourage them to go into pig production as a business.

Course Overview

The estimated world pig population of 826 million (FAO, 1988) means that there is approximately one pig for every six people in the world. A comparison of the meat produced by pigs with other domestic species also revealed that more pig meat is produced than any other meat despite the fact that pigs are statistically fewer than other domestic species. Pig business is Big business! However, Pig production is like any other business – without clear objectives and production targets, it lacks purpose and can end up being less profitable than it might have been.
To manage a piggery effectively, you must consider the piggery’s production and performance, identify ways to improve your herd, provide your herd with suitable housing, manage your herd’s feeding and monitor environmental issues. This training offers participants the opportunity to acquire such knowledge.

Course Benefit

At the end of the program participants should be able to;

•  Identify different breeds of exotic and native pigs
• Identify the different techniques in caring and managing of pigs
• Describe pig breeds and their characteristics
• Manage sow, boar, and piglet in the farm
•  Understand the principles of housing, and design and layout housing for pigs.
• Understand good health care management for pigs.
• Keep appropriate and adequate records in pig farms.
• Know the importance of sanitation
• Formulate feeds for different categories of pigs
• Calculate gestation period
• Identify and prevent common swine diseases
• Design and layout of a simple pig sty

Training Methods

The training methods to be adopted lectures, discussions, and presentations aided by PowerPoint slides as well as a tour to a commercial pig farm.