Hollis, Gilbert R.

Thomas, William B.

English

Texas A&M University

L-1328
PRODUCING FEEDER PIGS IN TEXAS
Gilbert R. Hollis and William B. Thomas*
The demand for top quality feeder pigs in Tex-
as far exceed the supply. From 1970 to 1973 a large
percentage of the finished pigs sold were purchased
as feeder pigs. Interest has developed to the point
where pecialized feeder pig markets are operating
ucces fully throughout Texas.
There are several advantages of raising feeder
pigs a compared with a farrow-to-finish operation.
• There i a more rapid turnover in the volume
of pigs than can be handled each year. About
6 months are required from the time sows are
bred until feeder pigs are sold. In a farrow-to-
finish op~ration this time is increased by about
4 months, for a total of 10 months before in-
come is real ized.
• Less operating capital is required for feeder
pig production. The total cost of producing
a feeder pig is about one-third that of a 220-
pound slaughter hog.
• Feeder pig production fits well into grain
deficit areas. The amount of grain required
to maintain a brood sow and raise a litter of
pigs to 40 pounds is about 20 to 25 percent of
the amount required to feed them to a market
weight of 220 pounds.
• Feeder pig production allows farmers to use
efficiently a maximum amount of labor. On
many farms the seasonal labor requirements
in the normal crop and livestock programs
leaves periods where excess labor is available.
Some smaller farms do not provide full-time
employment at any time during the year. A
feeder pig business can fit into many opera-
tions and use labor that might not otherwise
be u ed profitably.
The breeding herd also will make the best use
of any available pasture. In some areas the amount
of availahle pa ture land is not sufficient to main-
tain a cattle or sheep enterprise of economic size,
but is sufficient to permit pasturing of a profitable
sow herd.
*Areo Extension swine specialist, Texas A&M University Agricultur-
al Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, and Extension swine
specialist, The Texas A&M University System.
Production efficiency greatly affects profits
made from feeder pigs. Efficiency depends upon
good breeding, feeding, management, di ease con-
trol and marketing. A person's ability for handling
swine must be better than average to cope with the
specialized nature of producing feeder pigs. Pro-
ducing large litters of high-quality pigs that are free
from disease and parasites and are uniform in type
and size is e sential for a successful feeder pig bus-
iness.
BREEDING PROGRAM
The number and quality of pigs farrowed and
weaned can be increased if breeding stock is selected
with care.· When choosing a breeding program con-
sider some of the advantages of crossbreeding. Cross-
breedin~ improves pig performance from birth to
weaning. Crossbred sows usually farrow and wean
larger litters than purebred sows. Crossbred pigs
have greater endurance, strength, and ability to live
and grow; thus, they are heavier at weaning.
To maintain high performance from weaning to
market, new breeding stock must be superior in car-
cass traits and post-weaning gains because cross-
breeding has little effect on these traits.
The need to use superior boars in a crossbreed-
ing program cannot be over-emphasized. Since each
pig raised receives half of its genes from each parent,
and in turn transmits half to its offspring, gene-
tic makeup of the foundation sow herd is rapidly
diluted in succeeding generations.
A simple crossbreeding system involves rotating
boars of three different breeds. For example, a
Hampshire boar might be used for the first mating.
Then a Yorkshire boar might be mated to the
daughters of the Hampshire boar. The third boar
used could be a Duroc mated to the daughters of
the Yorkshire boar. (For more information on 0'0 s-
breeding see L-728, Crossbreeding for Commercial
Pork Production, Texas Agricultural te sion
Service.)
3.48
Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The Texas A&M University System. John E. Hutchison, Director. College Station
BREEDING MANAGEMENT
Proper management during the breeding season
is important in order to obtain a high conception
rate and large litters of healthy pigs.
Care of the Boar
In many case , the boar is the most abused mem-
ber of the swine herd. He should be kept away from
the sow herd in a large lot or pasture where water
and minerals are available at all times. Boars need
adequate exercise, sunlight and a balanced ration
to stay in good health and proper condition-. A
ervice-age boar should be fed 3 to 4 pounds per day
of a 16 percent protein ration during the non-breed-
ing ea on. The amount should be increased to 6 to
8 pounds some 10 to 12 days prior to breeding, and
maintained at this level throughout -the breeding.
A boar hould never be allowed to get too fat or too
thin, but hould be kept in a lean condition. Exer-
cise can be forced by placing feed and water away
from the leeping quarters.
If possible, the entire sow herd should be hand-
mated. More sows can be mated to a boar during
the breeding season by hand-mating than by pen-
mating. Mature boars (18 months or older) can be
u ed three time per day for short periods of time.
Younger boars should be used less.
Vaccinate boars for erysipelas and leptospirosis
every 6 months, if these diseases are prevalent in the
area.
Care of the Gilts
Gilts should be selected at 180 to 240 pounds and
developed until at least 8 months of age before they
are bred. Older gilts produce larger litters of strong-
er, healthier pig. Sows and gilts normally come into
heat every 19 to 21 days with the heat period lasting
2 to 3 days. l'hey should be bred twice, with 12 to
24 hours between se'rvices if hand-mat~ng is prac-
ticed. However, if only one service is given, breed
gil ts 24 hours after the first sign of heat is detected.
tarting 2 weeks before the breeding season,
flush the gilts by full-~eeding (7 to 8 pounds per
head per day) a well-balanced, fortified ration.
Management During Gestation
During the ge tation period, sows should be fed
to gain 50 to 65 pounds. To help control gains
separate gilt from the older sows, especially in dry-
lot. Gilts and sows may be hand-fed or self-fed for
6 to 8 hours every third day. A little more feed may
be required for self-feeding, but -less labor is in-
volved.
Shelter and eqUipment during gestation can be
relatively simple. During the- winter allow. bred
sows 16 to 20- square feet of dry, draft-free shelter
per head. During the summer, allow 18 to 20 square
feet of shade per head. (For further information
about breeding, gestation and farrowing manage-
ment, see L-l024, Swine Management - A Basic
Guide) r~rexas Agricultural Extension Service.)
Feeder pig production makes excellent use of nat-
ural or improved pastures) and low cost facilities.
These crossbred pigs are ready for the feeder pig
market.
SOW AND LITTER CARE
There is no substitute for swine sanitation. Ef-
fective sanitation measures tart before farrowing
and thorough cleaning and disinfecting are es en-
tial.
The sow should be washed with soap and water
to remove dirt and worm eggs, and moved to the
farrowing house 2 to 3 days before farrowing.
.,It is usually time well spent to be with the sow
when she farrows. The approximate farrowing date
can be determined by keeping accurate b eeding
records, since pig are born about 112 to 115 da
.after the sow is bred. ewborn pig should be dried
off with a sack or cloth to prevent chilling, and it
might also be necessary to provide heat lamps or
gas-fed brooders. It i important that all newborn
pigs find a teat and begin nul' ing soon afte ar-
rowing. Antibodies in the cole trum or fir t milk
help protect the pig from disease and infection.
Crossbred pigs are heavier at weanzng than pure-
bred pigs.
Modern farrowing facilities} such as this one} have
moderately low cost} labor saving} individual sow
units.
If e er I ow farrow within a 48-hour period,
tran fer pig 0 all the sows have about the same
number. This give the pigs a better chance to
survive and reduces the possibility of runts.
Pig hould be ear-Qotched, have their needle
teeth clipped, tail docked, and navals and naval
tubs treated with tincture of iodine shortly after
birth.
utritional anemia can be prevented by provid-
in a source of supplemental iron for pigs on or
before the third day of age.
Creep feed should be made available to the pigs
7 to 10 days after birth. An 18 percent protein
starter hould be made available to the pigs when
they attempt to eat with the sow. Castrate male
pigs before 2 weeks of age and wean pigs at 35 to
42 days of age.
DISEASE AND PARASITE CONTROL
Sanitation, which will help contro~ diseases and
parasites, is necessary for profitable swine rai ing.
Sanitary measures and good husbandry are synon-
ymous, both as a means of growing healthier swine
and' increasing the net farm income. If buildings,
pens and premises are kept clean and sanitary and
disease-producing organi ms are kept away, mo t
diseases and parasites cannot develop.
Water fountains should be located clo e to
drains or over slats. Self-cleaning waterers can help
to avoid bacterial buildup. A swine unit should be
fenced to reduce traffic and there should be an
effective control program for 'rodents, bird and flies.
Isolation quarters should be provided for crippled,
diseased or replacement animals. Foot bath con-
taining disinfectant should be provided at building
entrances. (For a detailed review of di ease preven-
tion and parasite control see L-993, wine Herd
Health) Texas Agricultural Exten ion Service.)
MARKETING FEEDER PIGS
There are three major methods of marketing
feeder pigs: (1) farmer-to-farmer sales; (2) special
feeder pig ales; and (3) contract feeder pig market-
ing.
• Farmer-to-farrner sales. There is no data to
accurately state how many or what proportion of
feeder pigs in Texas are sold on the ba is of private
treaties. However, there is good reason to believe
that nlore pigs are sold by this method than by any
other. Because pigs are moved directly from one
farm to another, mixing pigs from more than one
farm is avoided and the chances of spreading di ea e
are reduced. Where two farmers can work out a
satisfactory negotiation on price, quantity and
weight, this tnethod can provide an as 'ured supply
for the buyer, while the producer is assured of a
steady market.
The method of farmer-to-farmer sales does have
disadvantages. For example, if a disease outbreak
affects either the buyer's or seller's hogs the produc-
tion and marketing schedule is thrown off. Further-
more, extreme price variation usually leads to dis-
satisfaction on the part of at least one of the parties
-particularly if the extreme prices last beyond two
marketing periods.
• Special feeder pig sales.. Cooperative feeder
pig auctions have been developed under the leader-
ship of local swine producers and the Texas Agri-
cultural Extension Service. These sales have be-
come a desirable and effective system for the mar-
keting of feeder pigs in the central, eastern and
western areas of Texas. By scheduling special feeder
pig sales on a regular ba is throughout the year,
producers are assured of a competitive market and
are encouraged to produce high quality pigs. (Your
county Extension agent-agriculture, or the authors
of this publication, can give you the location and
dates of the feeder pig sales currently operating in
Texas.)
Under this program, all pigs are moved directly
from the farm to the cooperating auction market
where they mu t pass a rigid inspection by experi-
enced graders before they can be sold. Pigs are
sorted and penned according to weight and quality
and sold as a group.
All pigs of inferior quality, such as uncastrated
boar pigs or unhealed castrates, pigs with ruptures
or malformations and all pigs in an unthrifty con-
dition, are classed as rejects and sold "as is" at the
end of each regularly scheduled sale.
These special feeder pig auctions provide an out-
let for the producer with a small number of pigs
and assure him of a market which reflects the cur-
rent local value of his pigs.
• Contmct feeder pig marketing. Producing
and marketing feeder pigs by special contractural
agreement ha become increasingly popular in some
areas of the United States, particularly in the corn
bel t states.
Contact feeder pig marketing involves a contract
between a feeder pig producer and a marketing or-
ganization. The marketing organization may be a
private corporation or a cooperative corporation.
Many feeder pig produq~rs hold supply contracts
directly with feeders, furnishing to the feeders all
marketable pigs they produce. The producer agrees
to market all of his pigs through the organization.
In return, the organization furnishes field service on
production problems, secures a market for the pigs,
provides facilities for weighing and assembling, and
delivers the pigs to buyers from the assembly point.
The organization also sorts the pigs into uniform
lots prior to delivery. Pigs are rejected that are
undesirable according to standards of thrift, type
and soundness. The organization deducts a set fee
from the sale price of the pigs for the services it
performs.
WHAT'S AHEAD
The demand for top quality feeder pigs during
the past few years has been increasing. Indications
are that this trend will continue with larger, more
specialized units. Feeder pigs will be produced on
one farm and then finished to market weight on
another farm.
Feeder pig production fits well on small to me-
dium-sized farms and part-time farmers can pro-
duce feeder pigs with a low investment.
The keys to success in this venture include the
managerial ability of the operator, good breeding
stock, an effective marketing system and a market
prearrangement to generate needed finances.
Readers desiring additional information on
swine production may obtain copies of the following
publications from their county Extension agent-agri-
culture, or by writing the authors of this publica-
tion.
MP-953 Keys to Profitable Swine Production
L-706 External Parasites Attacking Swine
in Texas
L-728 Crossbreeding for Commercial Pork
Production
L-992 Buying and Handling Feed for Pork
Production
L-993 Swine Herd Health
L-I024 Swine Management - A Basic Guide
L-1052 Handling Newly Purchased Feeder
Pigs
B-992 Selecting Meatier Hogs
:MP-1l28 Liquid Manure Management for
Swine
MP-691 Suggestions for Controlling External
Parasites of Livestock and Poultry
TIPS FOR PRODUCERS SELLING FEEDER PIGS
Regardless of the method of marketing used, a
producer must pay close attention to his sales pro-
gram. \tVh.ile the tips listed below do not guarantee
success in selling feeder pigs, many producers and
marketing organizations have found them useful.
1. Strive to build a reputation as an honest
supplier of high quality feeder pigs. A
good reputation goes a long way toward
building repeat sales which lower your sell-
ing cost.
2. Arrange farrowing to permit sales of pigs
several times per year to help level out price
variations and volume peaks.
3. Sort pigs properly into groups of uniform
size and quality. Well-sorted pigs command
a higher price than do unsorted ones.
4. Have pigs clean and "looking their best"
when they are shown to a prospective buyer.
5. Whenever possible, follow up on perform-
ance of your pigs for several weeks after
buyer has them on feed.
6. Price pigs realistically. Price pigs according
to present day market Do not overprice or
underprice.
7. Castrate boar pigs well in advance of sale
date.
8. Express your willingness to buyers to furnish
them with a herd health and inspection state-
ment from your local veterinarian. Such a
statement helps build confidence in your
honesty and ability to supply good pigs.
9. When deemed advisable, furnish your buyer
written recommendations on handling feed-
er pigs for the first few days after arrival at
his farm.
10. Assist your buyer in arranging transporta-
tion of pigs to his farm.
These tips were taken from C-349, Producing and
Marketing Feeder Pigs) Kansas Cooperative Exten-
sion Service.
Educational programs conducled by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages regardless of socio-economic .
levels, race, color, sex, religion or national origin.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States
Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and
June 30, 1914.
7Y2M-8-74 AS 6


Producing Feeder Pigs in Texas.

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Producing Feeder Pigs in Texas.

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