Doc's Blog

Identification is an important part of raising animals. While not as advanced as social security numbers, IDs, and licenses, tags and markings let people know a bit more about where a specific animal comes from.

When it comes to pigs, permanent identification is mandatory for exhibition. For general farming and breeding, it’s also beneficial for keeping track of your swine.

You have a few options available to you for marking a pig. Here are the most common methods.

Over the past two decades, the popularity of artificial insemination in swine breeding has grown exponentially. While artificial insemination or “AI” has been more popular in larger farms for genetics and quality control purposes, it’s gained traction in smaller setups for economical reasons.

With AI, you don’t need to keep boars on hand, saving you space and feed costs.

In order for swine artificial insemination to be a success, proper preparation is needed. Before conception can happen, your gilts or sows need to come into heat, which requires a combination of patience, planning, and execution.

Birth is a beautiful and natural part of life.

But despite being natural and instinctive, it’s also a complicated process. Many things can go wrong if not handled correctly. When it comes to swine, the process of birth is called farrowing. For hog breeders, the farrowing process is key in ensuring the future health of your livestock.

In my book “Doc Sanders Goes Whole Hog”, I discuss farrowing in great detail. In fact, the chapter on farrowing is the longest and most extensive chapter of the book.

Below is a brief summary of some of the guidance and insight I provide on this subject.

Once you’ve decided to enter the wonderful world of pig raising, you have an important decision to make:

Which type of pig do you choose?

Though a slightly pink hued, curly tailed piglet is what the common person first thinks of, there’s a much greater variety of swine available.

Diseases are a serious threat for any pig operation, especially when you have many pigs sharing the same environment. But by following proper disease control measures and vaccinations procedures, you can keep your pigs safe and healthy.

When it comes to raising a pig, whether it’s for a show or for profit, the environment you keep them in can be a determining factor in whether or not you succeed.

There are many different systems for pig housing, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Obviously the number of pigs you have, as well as the size of the pig (or pigs) will impact your decision.

Raising and breeding pigs can bring great satisfaction and reward – if you know what you’re doing.

Whether you’re raising pigs for junior fair, for market, or for breeding, there’s a lot to be prepared for. Many variables stand between you and a blue ribbon or profit. Diseases, health care, nutrition and housing, for starters.

Simply put, if you don’t know what you’re doing, a lot can go wrong.

Photo by Angela Bowman

Summer is my favorite season, and it isn’t just because of the warm weather and weekend trips to the beach. For me, summer has always been county fair season. Some of my best memories are from early mornings on the washrack, late nights playing cards in the barn and of course showing off a year’s worth of hard work in the show ring.

From the AABP April 2016 Newsletter:

Click on the link to learn more and view the April 2016 AABP Newsletter

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