i. Course Title: AS 305- PIG PRODUCTION
ii. Course Aim: To impart skills in pig farming, to develop knowledge in raising and managing pigs in various farming systems
iii. Course Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course the students shall be able to:
• Identify suitable pig breeds for various environments.
• Perform routine husbandry practices for different classes of pigs (rearing of piglets, growers, sows and boars, ear tagging/tattooing, tooth clipping, castration, slaughtering and dressing of animals etc).
• Formulate feed rations for feeding different classes of pigs.
• Design and construct suitable house for pigs.
• Prepare a whole year round production cycle detailing feeding regime, feed and housing requirements and breeding activities.
iv. Course status: Core
v. Credit rating: 7 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 70 hrs
Pre-requisite: AS 101
vii. Course content:
The pig industry: Aims, advantages and problems to the industry. The origin of pigs, Breeds of pigs and their characteristics .Effects of climatic conditions on pig production. Management of different classes of pigs (piglets, growers, finishing pigs, breeding herd). Production targets. Factors affecting performance of pigs . Feeds and Feeding of different classes of pigs. Factors affecting litter size and sow productivity. Genetic improvement of pigs. Pig production Systems, housing and equipments for pigs including waste management and disposal. Establishment and maintenance of a piggery unit. Records and record keeping.
Practical: Identification of different types of breeds, individual animal identification, tooth clipping, castration, administration of iron injections, rationing and feeding, disease and parasite preventive measures, pig slaughter operations.
viii. Teaching and learning activities
Teaching activities
Teaching activities will involve lectures, tutorials and field work practical.
Learning activities
Learning activities will involve performing take home assignments, seminar presentations and independent reading. Students will be encouraged to do independent study by reading relevant reference books, teaching manuals, scientific papers and other learning materials.
ix. Assessment methods:
A variety of coursework assessments will be done and these include take home assignments, tutorials, seminar presentations and practical reports. There shall be written theory and practical tests given at appropriate time during the semester. In addition, there shall be an end of semester University examination.
x. Reading list:
Lekule, F. P., M. V. Johansen, A. P. Muhairwa, N. Ngowi, H. Mejer, D. E. Mushi, E. C. Kimbi and E. Mkupasi (2012). Small-scale Pig Production Handbook for Eastern and Southern Africa
Whittemore, C.T. (1993). The Science and Practice of Pig Production, Longman, London
Lekule, F. P. (1996). Pig production, theory and practice. Department of Animal Science and Production. Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro Tanzania. 108p.
Pond and Maner (1974). Swine production in Temperate and Tropical environments.UnitedStates of America. 649pp.
Devendra C. and Fuller (1979). Pig Production in the Tropics. OUP Oxford.
Eusebio, J. A. (1980). Pig Production in the Tropics. Longman.