Pork Production and Management

Two Phases of Growth:
- Feeder Pigs: Typically weigh between 40 – 70 pounds, approximately 9 weeks old.
- Market Hogs: Weigh between 250 – 300 pounds, around 27 weeks old.
Growth Stages:
- Growing: From feeder to market weight.
- Finishing: Final weight gain before market.

Time Allocation:
- Feeding: 88% of pigs' time is spent on this activity.
- Lying: 9% of the time.
- Playing: 12% of the time.
- Drinking: Exact percentage not stated but involved in feeding.

Thermal Comfort Zone:
- Defined as the temperature range where the animal does not need to expend extra energy to maintain body temperature.
Temperature Ranges by Pig Size:
- 40 - 75 lbs: Comfortable at 70 - 85 °F.
- 75 - 150 lbs: Comfortable at 60 - 83 °F.
- 150 + lbs: Comfortable at 45 - 80 °F.

Types of Floors:
- Rough Floors: Associated with tow pad lesions.
- Importance of solid vs. void ratios in flooring design.
Floor Specifications:
- Partially Slotted Floors: More than 1/3 slotted.
- Fully Slotted Floors: Most commonly used in pig farming.
- Solid Floors: Have a slope of 0.5 to 1.0 inch per foot.

Feeder Space Minimum Requirements:
- Feeders must be wide enough to accommodate the following dimensions:
- Shoulder Width (inches): Must ensure proper spacing according to pig size.
  - Minimum Feeder Space Width:
  - 15 inches for larger sizes.
  - 12 inches for medium sizes.
  - 6 inches for small sizes.

Water Intake:
- Calculated as twice the feed intake (Water intake = 2 * feed intake).
- Flow Rate Influence: Strongly affects consumption, with optimal flow rates greater than 0.2 gallons per minute.
- Swinging Waterers: Preferred design for effective water access.

Design Variants:
- Completely Enclosed: For optimal control of environmental factors.
- Open Fronted: Allows for better airflow and natural light.
- Outside Apron: Provides outdoor access while being partially enclosed.
Aisle Designs:
- One-Side Aisle: Direct access to one side of pens.
- Aisle with Pens on Two Sides: Allows for observation from both sides.
- No Aisles: Total focus on pen usage.
Space Allocation:
- Pen = 87.5%
- Aisle = 12.5%
- Variations in aisle distribution up to 100% pen area in no-aisle designs.

Growth Metrics:
- Daily Fat-Free Lean Gain: Ranges from 0.35 to 0.95 lb/day based on liveweight from 50 lbs to 275 lbs.
- Average Daily Gain (ADG): Commercially averages around 1.5 to 2.5 lb/day for liveweights from 50 to 275 lbs.
Feed Efficiency Metrics:
- Feed/Gain Ratio: Desirable ratios range from 2.50 to 3.00 across varying growth stages.
Split Sex Feeding Impacts:
- Barrows have about 11.5% higher feed intake than gilts, growing faster by roughly 6%.
- Gilts are more efficient with a 4.3% growth advantage and produce higher percentages of lean carcasses.

Feeding Phases:
- Phase Feeding: Utilizes different feed strategies based on the pig’s age and weight.
- Younger pigs (ages 45 - 135 lbs) consume less and grow leaner.
Standardized Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility (SID):
- Lysine Requirements:
- % SID Lysine varies, needs are calculated across growth phases.
- Development of a 6-phase feeding program with specific body weight requirements for optimal lycine levels.
- Example of feeding phases:
- Phase 1: For weights between 45 to 90 lbs
- Phase 2: For weights between 90 to 135 lbs
- Other Phases: Continue up to 270 to 315 lbs with specific dietary inclusions (such as ractopamine).

Common Diseases of Swine:
- Ileitis caused by Lawsonia intracellularis.
- Swine Influenza Virus (SIV).
- Swine Respiratory Disease (SRD): Involves various pathogens, targeting respiratory systems, including MPS, APP, Bordetella, Pasteurella, and PRRS.