Scientific Methods and Key Recommendations for Large-Scale Pig Farming

1. Preliminary Planning: Laying a Solid Foundation for Farming​

• Site Selection: Choose a well-ventilated, high-lying, and dry area, at least 1 km away from residential areas and water sources. Divide the site into four zones: "Living Zone, Production Zone, Isolation Zone, and Manure Treatment Zone," with a minimum distance of 50 meters between each zone. Arrange the Production Zone in a one-way flow (Breeding → Gestation → Farrowing → Nursery → Finishing) to avoid cross-contamination.​

• Barn & Equipment: Adopt semi-enclosed or fully enclosed barn designs, equipped with temperature control systems (28-32°C for nursery pig barns, 18-22°C for finishing barns) and ventilation systems (3-5 air changes per hour). Select key equipment such as elevated farrowing crates, slatted floors, automatic feeding lines, and intelligent water dispensers to reduce labor costs.​

2. Breeding Pig & Sow Management: Ensuring Reproductive Efficiency​

• Breeding Pig Introduction: Source breeding pigs from formal pig farms, and require quarantine certificates and pedigree records. Isolate and observe the pigs for 45 days; only mix them into the herd after confirming their health.​

• Core Herd Selection & Feeding: Retain individuals in the core herd with "≥12 piglets per litter and ≥60 kg litter weight at 21 days of age." Use "synchronization of estrus + artificial insemination" to improve conception rates.​

• Stage-Based Feeding for Sows: For gestating sows, control feed intake to 1.8-2.2 kg/day in the early stage (Days 1-30) and increase it to 2.8-3.5 kg/day in the late stage (Days 85-114). For lactating sows, gradually increase feed intake to 5-7 kg/day of high-nutrition feed within 7 days after farrowing to reduce sow weight loss and low weaning weight of piglets.​

3. Piglet Rearing: Reducing Mortality​

• Newborn Piglet Care: Within 1 hour of birth, dry the piglets’ bodies, disinfect the umbilical cord after cutting, and assist them in consuming colostrum. Maintain a temperature of 32-35°C in the brooder (lower by 2°C per week). Inject iron dextran on Day 3 and trim teeth on Day 7.​

• Weaning Transition: For piglets weaned at 21-28 days of age, keep them in the original pen for 1 week. Feed digestible starter feed with frequent small meals to reduce stress.

​

4. Finishing Management: Improving Growth Efficiency​

• Grouping & Stocking Density: Group pigs by "gender and weight" (weight difference within the same group ≤10%). Provide 1.0-1.2 m² per pig for the 30-60 kg stage and 1.2-1.5 m² per pig for pigs over 60 kg.​

• Stage-Based Feeding & Slaughter Timing: Use feed with 16-17% crude protein for the early finishing stage and feed with ≥3.2 MJ/kg digestible energy for the late stage; adopt ad libitum feeding to control the feed-to-gain ratio within 2.8:1. Slaughter pigs at 110-120 days of age and 110-130 kg body weight for optimal benefits.​

5. Biosecurity: Preventing Epidemics​

• Personnel & Vehicle Control: Prohibit off-site personnel from entering the Production Zone; on-site personnel must change clothes, disinfect, and shower before entry. Disinfect pig transport vehicles and feed trucks with 2% sodium hydroxide for 30 minutes before allowing entry.​

• Disinfection & Vaccination: For empty pens, follow the process: "Cleaning → Rinsing → Drying → Disinfection → 7-day Vacancy." Disinfect aisles and feed troughs weekly during production. Vaccinate pigs against classical swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, and pseudorabies according to the schedule. Observe the herd daily, isolate sick pigs promptly, and cull and dispose of pigs with major epidemics as required.​

6. Cost & Environmental Management​

• Cost Control: Reduce feed waste through centralized procurement and formula optimization; use automated equipment to lower labor costs (1 worker can manage 500-800 finishing pigs).​

• Environmental Protection: Collect manure using "slatted floors + automatic manure scrapers," direct urine to biogas digesters for fermentation, and use fermented biogas residue and slurry as organic fertilizer to ensure compliant treatment and prevent pollution.​

• Data Management: Establish farming records to track indicators such as conception rate and average daily gain. Analyze data regularly and adjust management plans to achieve sustainable farming.