1. Exploratory Agriculture
Swine Unit
Exploratory Agriculture

2. Fun Facts
Largest pig ever known weighed 1,051 lbs. His name was Big Bill and stood 5’9 at the shoulder.
An 11-year-old Alabama boy used a pistol to kill a wild hog

3. Fun Facts Pigs do not have sweat glands.
They are more tolerant of cold weather!

4. Fun Facts
Pigs are very intelligent- they can pick up tricks faster than dogs!
Pigs can run a 7 minute mile!

5. Fun Facts Pigs are very clean-they only roll in the mud to cool off!
They keep their toilet and bed in separate areas

6. Fun Facts Pigs have a very good sense of smell.
Pigs have excellent hearing.

7. Vocabulary Piglet-newborn pig Sow-female pig who has given birth
Gilt-female pig who has never given birth

8. Vocabulary Boar- male pig that is not castrated.
Barrow- castrated male pig
Wean- separating a piglet from their mother

9. Vocabulary Gestation- Pregnancy Farrowing- Process of giving birth.
Farrowing house- house where sows go to give birth.

10. Vocabulary
Farrowing Crate- enclosure used for farrowing. It helps protect the piglets from getting crushed.

11. Vocabulary
Creep Feeding- Feeding piglets in addition to their mother’s milk.
Done in an enclosure so that the mother can’t get to it.
Introduces piglets to regular feed

12. Processing Piglets: At Birth
Cut their navels and dip in iodine to minimize infection.
Count number of live and dead pigs born.

13. Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old
Sex the piglets
Determine if boar or gilt
Weigh

14. Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old
3. Give an iron shot
Sow’s milk naturally low in iron
Clip Needle Teeth
So they don’t hurt sow or other piglets

15. Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old
5. Clip 1/3 of tail
Cleaner pigs and visually appealing
6. Ear Notch
Identification Purposes

16. Processing Piglets: 3 Days Old
Give Penicillin Shot
Antibiotic to prevent infection

17. Processing Piglets: 7-10 Days Old
Piglets introduced to creep feeding

18. Processing Piglets: 10-14 Days Old
Castrate Boars
Not all Boars are castrated
Some kept for breeding or show purposes