Pig Production Guide

Breeding Indoors

There are two parts to an indoor breeding farm, the dry sow accommodation where sows live in social groups once they have been mated, and the farrowing (birthing) accommodation where sows are moved to just before they farrow (give birth) and while they are suckling.

It is a legal requirement that all sows in the UK are ‘loose housed’ this means that ‘dry sows’ must be housed in buildings where their movement is not restricted. In other EU countries (except Sweden) sows can be confined in stalls for a period of four weeks after being weaned from their piglets.

Just before the sow is due to farrow she is moved into specialist farrowing accommodation where she will stay until her piglets are weaned from her at approximately four weeks of age.

The sow is usually placed into an individual pen so she is separated from other sows and not disturbed during farrowing and suckling.

Usually the pen will contain a farrowing crate which is a tubular metal structure that prevents the sow from rolling on top of her piglets and crushing them. There are several designs of farrowing crates and all must allow the sow to stand and lie down in comfort. Some can be adjusted so that the sow is able to be even more mobile as the piglets get older and are less vulnerable.

Pigs are born with teeth. Within the first seven days of a piglet being born it may have its milk teeth either clipped or ground. This is done to protect the sow’s teats and udder and to reduce the opportunity for piglets to injury each other during play and wounds becoming infected.

Piglets may also have part of their tail docked during this period to help with welfare in the event of tail biting by other piglets. Only the end of the tail that contains no nerves is allowed to be removed using special clippers to avoid it being chewed as a ‘toy’ by other piglets. If tail biting does occur it can result in the tail becoming infected leading to infection.

In the UK, the castration of piglets is prohibited under assurance scheme regulations which cover more than 90 per cent of UK pig production. But it is carried out throughout much of the rest of Europe. There are obvious welfare benefits in not castrating pigs. ‘Entire’ pigs are also more efficient in converting feed to meat than castrated males as they are leaner and faster.

Sows are fed at least once a day. During the period of farrowing and suckling the energy content of the diet is increased. The sow’s diet is also increased (quantity or content or both) just before mating (flushing). This is to make sure the sow is in good condition at the time of mating which will in turn improve the chances of conception.

Since 1986 Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) has been prohibited from all pig diets.