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Swine Production 432 Project Assignment
Purpose:
1. To utilize information presented in lecture and from other
references in developing an appreciation of swine production
systems, costs and profits.
2. To stimulate independent thought and learning by the student.
3. To provide practice in preparing a technical report.
Grading:
Each section of the assignment and the complete project
assignment are to be handed in by 6 pm on the due dates indicated in
the class schedule. Marks will be deducted for any assignments not
handed in when due.
The assignments are to be typed (double spaced, numbered pages),
except for diagrams and plans, which are to be neat and legible.
They are to be written in the style of a technical report to be
presented to industry.
Each section of the assignment will evaluated, assigned a
preliminary letter grade and returned to the student with comments.
The student is expected to make appropriate alterations based on the
comments and on consultation with the instructor. The complete
assignment containing all the revised sections will be assigned a
numerical grade following the
grading criteria listed.
If you have any questions regarding this assignment, please
consult with the instructor.
Project:
Outline a practical, commercial farrow-to-finish swine
enterprise. Assume that there is sufficient land available to
accommodate only the buildings and manure storage facilities, about
3 to 5 acres, which is the average size of a pig farm in Hawai`i.
Your farm will be a specialized pig farm and not be growing other
products. The farm can be located either in Hawai`i or in your home
area.
Explain briefly and clearly the reasons for your decisions
regarding the program you have selected in each of the following
sections. Sound, individual thought and originality within the
restrictions imposed are encouraged. Sufficient descriptive
information and calculations are to be included in the reports in
order that anyone reading the reports can readily determine what was
done and why. Be sure to credit sources and include a bibliography.
Section 1. Swine Farm Site and Herd Description
Describe the location of your farm. Indicate where it is on a map
(e.g. City and County map, MapQuest). What is the zoning in this
location? Describe the site in as much detail as possible,
considering topography, rainfall, and proximity of neighbors. What
resources are available at this location? What are the drawbacks?
Consider water resources, feed sources, land for application of
manure, and availability of markets. Why did you choose this
location?
Give a general description of your production system. Yours will
be a farrow to finish farm. Will it be a pasture farm, a confinement
farm, or something in-between? Why?
Determine the size of your swine herd and calculate the inventory
of pigs of each category (sows, boars, gilts, suckling pigs,
weaners, growers, finishers). How many pigs will need to be mated,
farrowed, weaned, and sold each week? What farrowing rate and pre
and post weaning death rates are you expecting?
Swine Care Handbook
City and County of Honolulu
Planning and Permitting
Hawai`i Agricultural
Statistics Service
Production Economy of the swine industry in Hawai`i
What
Do You Need to Raise Swine in Hawai`i
PIH Production Systems
Section 2. Breeding System
Select and describe the breeds, the breeding or crossing system,
and the selection of replacements to be used in your herd. Include a
diagram of your crossing system. Assume all replacement stock are to
be generated on the farm with the possibility of limited outside
introduction of boars. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
the selected system compared to other systems? How are appropriate
matings determined? How are replacements selected? How will
inbreeding be avoided?
Indicate the number of boars, sows, and gilts of each breed and
cross. Assume the herd is already established according to your
breeding program and thus avoid the problems of building up the
herd.
Oklahoma State
University - Swine Breeds
National Swine
Improvement Federation
PIH Breeding and Genetics
Section 3. Building and Manure Storage Facilities
Outline the building(s) for your herd on graph paper using a line
drawing showing designs and pen layout, flow pattern, size and
approximate cost including equipment. Include a table showing how
many pigs you have in each age/size group, the number of pigs per
pen, the number of pens needed, the area needed per pig and the size
of each pen. Describe any specialized penning such as farrowing
crates or raised nursery pens. Include waste handling systems and
manure storage. Include feed storage and any other specialized
facilities. How will animal welfare be promoted in your system? How
will the layout help make pig movement and other jobs flow smoothly?
Calculate the quantity of manure produced and indicate the
methods of manure management and disposal, including an estimate of
the crop land which would be necessary. What are Hawai`i's
regulations to control water pollution by swine wastes? How much is
a 25-year 24-hour storm at your location? Is your farm a CAFO?
MidWest Plan Service
PIH Housing
EPA
Animal Feeding Operations
PIH Manure Management
Living Machine
NRCS State of the Land
Section 4. Feeding Program
With the aid of the Mixit computer program, formulate the
necessary diets for the herd. Students are encouraged to form teams
each of which will formulate a different diet (grower, lactation,
starter) and share the results with the class. Include the Mixit
printouts and explanations of what they show in your report. Assume
all diets will be prepared on the farm. All feed inputs will have to
be purchased at reasonable market value. Assume the vitamin-mineral
premixes are to be purchased and used at the rate of 35 kg per tonne
of complete feed. The other ingredients used are to be the most
economical ones currently available in the farm area. Consider using
local products or recycled food waste to reduce costs. What other
local feeds are available? Will antibiotics be used as
growth-promotants? Be sure to indicate the advantages and
disadvantages of your choices.
Indicate the cost of each ingredient and the cost per tonne of
complete diet as well as the total amount of each ingredient
required per year and total feed cost per year. Indicate the feed
processing equipment required and reasons for your choice.
PIH Nutrition
Section 5. Health and Management
Outline the program to be followed to maintain the health of the
herd, including measures to prevent entry and spread of disease, and
measures to maximize immunity. Outline a program to minimize stress
at all stages of production. Specify measures to prevent residues in
the meat.
Outline the routine management practices required by the pigs,
such as piglet processing. Design a schedule of daily and weekly
management.
The Merck
Veterinary Manual
PigHealth
NetVet
APHIS Veterinary Services
PIH Herd Health
Pork Quality
Assurance Handbook
Foodborne
Illness
Food Safety and
Inspection Service
On Farm
Euthanasia of Swine - Options for the Producer
Vaccination Schedules for Swine in Hawai`i
Section 6. Marketing and Economics
Where will your pigs be sold? How much can you expect to make?
How will marketing costs (slaughter fee, pork check-off) be handled?
How much labor will be required? Assume that the total operation
will be looked after by hired help (at least until you graduate).
Determine the costs, returns and profitability of the above
enterprise at present prices of inputs and pigs. Include costs
attributable to feed, breeding stock, capital investment (interest
and depreciation), labor, and other operating costs. If care is
exercised in developing the previous sections, this section should
not require a large amount of work. Comment on your expectations
regarding the future of your farm and the pork industry in your
area. Can you compete with mainland pork?
PIH Marketing
Hawai`i Agricultural
Statistics Service
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