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:

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.

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Look who is coming?

A warm welcome to Jackpot

A warm welcome to Jackpot

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X15 is now in a pen with his siblings. Piglets are brought here when they are three or four weeks old. They are taken away from their mother and live in a group with no contact to older pigs. They mostly live on slatted floors.

Piglets live in these usually bare pens which are, in contrast to our video, nearly always without any toys, for around two months before they are put into fattening pens.

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You’ll be able to watch the next film of X15 next Tuesday

X15 continues to live in a closed room on a slatted floor

The piglets jump at the slightest noise or movement

Piglet X11 checks out his new home filled with loads of straw

Piglet X11 checks out his new home filled with loads of straw

You can see all the other pictures of how the two are living in the “after the move” album on our Flickr-Profile.

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Teeth clipping is only allowed in order to prevent the piglets injuring the mothers teats, so it isn’t routine surgery. Teath must stay intact, opening the pulpa can cause bacterial infections. X15 and his siblings are spared with these surgeries.

Only vets are allowed to dock tails and they are supposed to use anaesthetics and painkilling drugs.

After castration they receive an injection behind the ear to supply them with iron. They need iron for the composition of hemoglobin (red blood pigment), myoglobin (red pigment of the muscles) and ferreous enzymes. The increased requirements for iron are due to blood and muscle building in the first few weeks of life.

Now the piglet-service for X15 and his siblings is finished.

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