Welcome friend. I trust the year is treating you well. Today, we have another interesting topic to discuss. We will be discussing PIG FARMING.
Sit tight and enjoy this jolly ride.
INTRODUCTION TO PIG FARMING
Pig production has come a long way in the world and in the tropics, as the years went by different breeds of pigs have been developed from pre-existing ones. Today, there are scores of different breeds of pigs in the world.
The business is a very lucrative one that is worth billions of dollars as we speak; many are into it on small, medium, and large scales. Pig meat is the most consumed meat in the world as at now. Pig farming is also called HOG farming. According to Wikipedia, pig farming is the raising and breeding of domestic pigs as livestock and is a branch of animal husbandry.
Pigs are farmed principally for food i.e., pork (the general name of the meat from a domestic pig), bacon (salt-cured pork), and gammon (salt-cured meat from the hind leg of a domestic pig).
Other types of processed, cured pork are: Prosciutto, sausage, etc. The branch of cooking devoted to preparing meat products from the pig is called charcuterie (Wikipedia).
TERMS IN PIG FARMING
Boar: Mature male pig
Sow: A Mature female pig that has given birth before
Gilt: Mature female pig yet to give birth
Farrow: The act of pigs giving birth
Piglets: Young pigs still nursed.
Barrow: Castrated male pig
Dry sow: A sow whose piglets have just been weaned
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PIGS
They share some similar characteristics with human beings. The heart of a pig is almost the same as that of a human being
Pigs don’t have sweat glands, which is why you see them in the mud quite often, trying to cool their bodies.
With all other things being equal, it should take a pig six months from birth to reach a slaughter weight of between 50 and 60 kg.
Pigs can eat just anything except feed or materials with high cellulose.
Pig farming is one of the few agricultural businesses that can make you a profit within a year of starting.
There you have it; I believe you have learned a little about pigs today. Next time, we will continue.
