Producing piglets: Part 5

To improve production in your pig herd, you need to use top-quality gilts. This article explains the traits to select for.

The better the gilt, the better her piglets are likely to be. This is why it’s so important to keep only the best among the young, growing female animals on the farm for breeding.

Begin by selecting breeding gilts from sows that produce large litters with above-average growth rates, and carcasses with a low fat content.

When selecting gilts, choose animals with the following characteristics: • Strong, straight legs with large, evenly sized claws.

• Good walking ability. The animal should walk straight and well, and stand up on her claws without falling over at the pastern joints just above the foot.

• A well-formed vulva and six wellshaped, prominent teats on each side of the belly. The teats should start well forward and be spaced evenly to allow adequate suckling for the piglets.

• A well-developed ham (leg), and good length, with light shoulders and head.

REPLACEMENT OF GILTS

If replacement gilts are not available when needed or if they don’t meet your requirements, buy them in. If possible, purchase them from the same farm where the boars come from, because in this way the previous owner can advise you on the breeding policy for a small pig farm.

Gilts are usually selected for breeding at five to six months of age. (The pigs not selected can then be sold as baconers at a live weight of 85kg to 90kg.) Rear the selected gilts until they weigh between 120kg and 130kg at seven-and-a-half to eight months of age; they will then be ready to be served by a boar for the first time.

Gilts have to be in a good condition to produce large litters (eight to 10 or more healthy piglets) and should not be too fat when they are ready for mating.

To obtain the right balance, feed them about 2kg meal/gilt/day from the time of selection until they are served by a boar. This will also ensure that they don’t lose too much fat during suckling and they are in a good condition after weaning their first litter.

• Source: Kemm, EH. 2002. ‘Guide to small-scale pig farming’. Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from nda.agric.za/docs/pigs1/management.html.

FW ARCHIVE Gilts have to be in good condition in order to produce large and healthy litters.