The mast in sight of industrial keeping of animals
The last period in life of X15 has began. His weight is about 32 kg and starting from now he is a fattener. Fatteners are pigs which are used for slaughter in the age of 10 weeks up to the slaughter.
The difference between open and closed business we will explain in the following. In an open business farrows are bought from different farrow producers, the risk of infection is very high. A closed business produces its own farrows. Here the risk of infection is lower and because of this the using of medicine is lower, too. The condition therefore is that the farrows are accustomed the germs in the stable. When new animals are bought (open business) they have to be treatened at arrival with prophylactical medicine.
In every case mast pigs get an immunisation against mykoplasmas and often an anthelmintic therapy. Mykoplasmas are germs that may cause pneumonia. The ambition of every carrier is to decrease the using of medicine. But in reality it´s often not possible to pass on medicine while becoming a mast weight of 110 kg. If the hygiene standard is high and the choice of farrow producers is well-considered, it is possible to reduce the using of medicine strongly.
Before arrival or change over of the farrows it is neccessary to clean and disinfect the stable very well. If slatted floor (concrete) is used, the column width must be at least 18 mm and the area of support at least 80 mm. Relocated farrows, mast pigs and breeding pigs have to be in groups. Animals under 30 kg must have a living area of 0,30 qm, animals up to 50 kg an area of 0,40 qm and animals up to the weight of 110 kg an living area of 0,70 qm.
If the pigs cannot get outside, the stables must have windows or other open/transparent areas which give daylight. Those areas have to be at least 3 % of the stable floorspace. On one day pigs have to get a 8-hours-light of minimum 40 lux.
Furthermore pigs need a permanent access to materials for exercise and movement (e.g. straw, wood or ball).
All pigs must have an access to drinking water. At least one time a day they have to be feeded. Concerning group holding the feeding place must be:
| Weight |
feeding place |
| to 30 kg | 18,00 cm |
| to 40 kg | 21,00 cm |
| to 50 kg | 24,00 cm |
| to 60 kg | 27,00 cm |
| to 85 kg | 30,00 cm |
| to 110 kg | 33,00 cm |
For X15 it is time to eat, sleep and put on weight. X15 lives in a closed business, the using of medicine is near zero.
Nearly always mast pigs get medicine over the food. So not only sick animals get a treatment, but also those who are healthy. In companies with some hundred mast places a treatment with injections is nearly not possible. Some companies use medicine before animals become sick to prevent a breakout of a sickness.
