Extension Circular 502
1962
producing
FEEDER PIGS
R. Hollandbeck and J. R. Foster, Extension Swine Specialists1
Feeder pig production in Indiana is a profitable and growing enterprise. Demand for top quality Indiana feeder pigs raised far exceeds the supply.
Much of Indiana is especially well adapted to feeder pig production. These areas are generally characterized as being capable of growing good legume-grass pasture and needing a legume-grass cover crop a minimum of 2 years out of every 4. Average to small-sized farms with minimum corn production can yield a sizeable volume of business with this enterprise.
Efficiency of production greatly affects profits made from feeder pigs. Efficiency depends upon good breeding, feeding, management, disease control and marketing. If a farmer fails in any one of these, he can expect disappointing results.
This publication points out some of the proven practices which aid in improved feeder pig production.
Good Management Vital
Good management, good hogs and good results team up for a most successful venture in the business of producing feeder pigs. Breeding limits potential performance and management limits actual performance of pigs. Even the best bred animals must be well fed and cared for if the breeder is to get maximum results from his investment.
The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. F. A. Hall, Purdue Extension Veterinarian, who prepared the section on sanitation, disease and parasite prevention.
The foremost key to good management is keen observation. An observing herdsman knows his animals. He knows if they are getting sick or if they are uncomfortable. He sees to it that beds are kept clean and dry, that water is fresh and plentiful that the feed supply is adequate and that records are kept. Faulty management and disappointing results go together.
Good Breeding
Genetic makeup provides an animal with ability, and environment provides opportunity. Brood sow productivity, feed conversion, gainability, uniformity, carcass quality and many other characteristics affecting the economy of both the feeder pig producer and the feeder pig buyer are heritable.
There is no better way to reduce production costs and at the same time build a reputation for producing top-quality pigs, than to use good breeding stock.
Feeder pig producers must select breeding stock capable of producing large litters of large, healthy pigs that will gain rapidly and efficiently and produce meaty carcasses at market time. But finding breeding stock that will transmit all these characteristics to their offspring is sometimes difficult. In many cases, the producer may not have this type of breeding stock on his farm; therefore, he must purchase foundation stock with as many of these characteristics as possible. Production tested and proven lines will be his best buy.
Sow Culling
Replacing poor-producing or old sows must be done carefully. The following production information should insure proper culling.
1.	The number of pigs born per litter should be recorded and classified as strong, weak or dead at birth. The goal is to keep only sows with eight or more strong pigs.
2.	Each pig should be weighed at birth. On the average, a difference of 1 pound at birth will make a difference of 7 pounds at 56 days of age. I he goal here is 3 to 3% pound pigs at birth.
3.	Each litter should be identified with an ear notch at birth. One ear notching system is given in Purdue Extension Circular 429, Raising Hogs in Indiana.
4.	Each litter should be weighed at 35 days of age. This is a practical way to measure the milking ability of the sow.
5.	Brief notes about the sow and her litter should be kept, recording such things as sow temperament, lactation difficulties and hereditary defects.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and the Un'ted States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, L. E. Hoffman, Director, Lafayette, Indiana. Issued in furtheranct 0 * *	'1
and June 30, 1914.
Cooperative Extenson Service, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Lafayette, Indiana