LV EN RU DE FR

Pig Husbandry

Course developer

Prior knowledge

LauZ4097, Animal Nutrition

Vete2023, Animal Anatomy and Physiology

Replaced course

LauZ4263 [GLAU4264] Pig Husbandry

Course abstract

Pig biological characteristics and its use level, variety characteristics and justification of choice, pig ethology, pig constitution and exterior, it evaluation, breeding, pig breeding methods, herd reproduction, pig production cycle technology, the fattening of pigs, pig farming technology, pig farms operating principles.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will gain knowledge of pig production, of pig farming technologies and production methods. Successful written tests. Learn skills to organize work on pig farms and learn ability to choose the best pig keeping technology. Successful completion of practical works. Students will be competent to judge and analyze the pork production technologies and argue their views. Successful passed examination.

Course Content(Calendar)

In full-time studies:
1. The economic importance of pig farming and its development in Latvia, in the world, pork as a food product. Lectures 1h.
2. Biological potential of pigs and their utilization rate, regularities of growth and development. Lectures 4h, practical works 4h.
3. Pig ethology. Lectures 1h.
4. Stress, its triggers. Lectures 1h, practical works 1h.
5. Exterior and constitution, productivity, evaluation. Lectures 1h, practical works 2h.
6. Creation, characterization and selection of pig breeds. Lectures 1h, practical works 2h.
Test 1. Pig's biological potential, utilization rate, stress, exterior, pig breeds.
7. The pig groups in production process, their circulation. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h.
8. Reproduction of herd. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h.
9. Breeding work, genetic principles of breeding. Lectures 1h, practical works 2h.
10. Pig breeding methods. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h.
Test 2. Pigs in the process of production, reproduction of herd, basic principles of breeding in pig farming.
11. Sows in oestrus, diagnosis of pregnancy, growth and development of embryos, calving. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h.
12. Suckling piglets housing and keeping technologies. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h
Test 3. Use of sows. Piglets keeping and housing technologies.
13. Housing design and keeping of differnt groups of pigs, welfare requirements. Lectures 4h, practical works 1h.
14. Organization principles of activities in large pig farm. Cyclograms. Lectures 2h, practical works 2h.
15. Types of fattening of pigs. Lectures 1h, practical works 1h.
16. Sale of pigs, quality of pork. Lectures 1h, practical works 3h. Test 4. Pigs fattening, welfare requirements, cyclograms.
Part-time correspondence studies: All topics indicated for full-time attendance are implemented, but the number of contact hours is 50% of the number of hours indicated in full-time studies.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Successfully did all practical works, successfully completed tests, passed examination

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student independently studies popular and scientific literature on pig breeding. Questions about the studied literature are integrated into the tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Student can get a successful mark on the tests and the exam if at least 50% of the questions are answered correctly. The practical work performed is evaluated according to the evaluation procedure specified in the practical task.Without the successful completion of practical works and writing tests, student cannot take the exam.

Compulsory reading

1. Liellopu un cūku mītnes: tehnoloģija un aprīkošana. Z. Bērziņa, D. Kairiša, A. Laurs, J. Priekulis, S. Štrausa, A. Veģe. Zemkopības ministrija, Rīga, 2003, 96.-186. lpp. 2. Ilsters A. Aprīkojums un izmaksas cūkkopībā. Rīga: LLU. Ulbrokas Zinātnes centrs, 2001. 171 lpp. 3. NRC. (2012) Nutrient requirements of swine. 11th rev.ed. Washington: The National Academies Press, 2012. 400 p. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13298/nutrient-requirements-of-swine-eleventh-revised-edition 4. Patience J.F., Thacker P.A., de Lange C.F.M. Swine nutrition guide. 2nd edition. Canada: Prairie Swine Centre Inc., 1995. 274 p. http://www.prairieswine.com/publications-psc/pdf-sng/PREFACE.PDF

Further reading

Ciltsdarba programma Latvijā audzētajām cūku šķirnēm [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 01.03.2019.] Pieejams: http://www.ccc.lv/docs/ciltsdarba_new.pdf

Periodicals and other sources

1. Saimnieks LV. Rīga : TEE BIO, 2004- ISSN 1691-1598.
2. AgroTops. Rīga: Aģentūra Agro apgāds. ISSN 1407-5164.

Notes

For study program Professional Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, qualification Zootechnics in Breeding