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purdue.edu/extension

EA/EO

Introduction to raising pastured pork

Valerie ClingermanPurdue Extension‐Knox County

Extension Educator‐Agriculture and Natural Resources

Outline

*Goals*Breed selection*Pasture*Feed/water*Shelter*Pest management *Biosecurity/traceability*Useful tools*Marketing

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About pigs…

• Highly intelligent and social‐equal to or greater than dogs!‐Very curious and explorative‐They will try to communicate with                          

you‐Can be a curse or blessing, be ready!

NC Cooperative Extension  “Pastured Pork Basics”https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/Pastured‐Pork‐Basics.pdf?fwd=no

Goal settingWhy do you want to do this?

‐Teach youth about livestock ‐Fill your freezer‐Know where your food is coming from/better flavor             ‐Space‐Preservation‐Sales/business

Have a mentor!

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Goal setting continued

What are your goals? ‐Breeding/Farrowing‐Feeder pigs/Meat production‐Blend? ‐Crossbred, purebred, heritagebreeds

Goal setting-breed selection

• Breeds characteristics include:*Lard production/leanness*Meat quality*Growth rates*Mothering ability and docility*Large litters*Hardiness to climate/pasture        production/durability

Do your homework! 

Pork.org

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Advantages and disadvantages of pasture productionAdvantages of pasture in swine production• Lower feed costs on good pasture.• Provides exercise and nutrients needed by breeding sows.

• Lower capital investment per production unit.

• Good use of land not suitable for cropping.

• Better isolation and disease control.• Decreases waste management problems.

• Decreased cannibalism.

Disadvantages of pasture system• More labor required for handling, feeding 

and watering.• Possibly greater problems with internal 

parasites.• More labor in farrowing.• Possible decrease of crop land.• May require slightly longer for hogs to 

reach market.• Lack of environmental control in extreme 

weather.

Forages for swine, University of Missouri: https://extension2.missouri.edu/g2360

Horse high, pig tight, bull strong

NC Cooperative Extension  “Pastured Pork Basics”https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/Pastured‐Pork‐Basics.pdf?fwd=noPenn State https://extension.psu.edu/programs/courses/swine/nutrition/forages‐for‐swine/what‐type‐of‐fence‐will‐i‐need‐to‐pasture‐hogs

Need strong perimeter fencing!*Woven wire, high‐tensile, or hog wire can be used*Bottom wires should be 1.5‐2” apart*Fence height at least 40”*Electric wire near the bottom*High tensile: 8‐10 strands, 2nd and 4th electrified

Interior fencing*3‐4 strand hot fence. Make sure fence is consistently on and develop maintenance plan (5‐6” wire spacing nursing pigs)*For sows and growing‐finishing hogs‐10” and 18”*Hog panels—expensive $$$

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Horse high, pig tight, bull strong

NC Cooperative Extension  “Pastured Pork Basics”https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/Pastured‐Pork‐Basics.pdf?fwd=noPenn State https://extension.psu.edu/programs/courses/swine/nutrition/forages‐for‐swine/what‐type‐of‐fence‐will‐i‐need‐to‐pasture‐hogs

Loading or scale area fencing*Needs to be strong and narrow, solid wall best! *Lighting, shadows*Moving objects*Other distractions

*Get at their level‐>300 degrees view

PasturesLegumes-Provide higher protein, calcium, and carotene than grass-alfalfa, ladino, sweet clover, red clover, and lespedeza (alfalfa and ladino probably best)

Perennial grassesOrchardgrass, endophyte-free tall fescue, timothy, and bromegrass

Grass-legume pasture mixes perform as well as legume alone, also reduces risk of loosing legume through heaving and stress kill

Forages for swine, University of Missouri: https://extension2.missouri.edu/g2360

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Stocking rates

Sows with litters 6‐8 per acre

Pigs from weaning to 100 pounds 15‐30 per acre

Pigs from 100 pounds to market 10‐20 per acre

Gestating sows 8‐12 per acre

Stocking rates will depend upon soil fertility, quality of pasture and time of year. Recommended pasture stocking rates are:

These recommendations assume the use of good quality legume pasture under conditions of adequate moisture.

Forages for swine, University of Missouri: https://extension2.missouri.edu/g2360

Rotational grazing

https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp‐content/uploads/designing‐pasture‐subdivisions‐for‐practical‐management‐of‐hogs‐2015.pdf?x47549

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Woods

• Provides shade and diversity of food• Nut bearing trees can be a “free” food and improve pork

flavor• Paddocks work best in the woods and is needed for

maintaining healthy trees• Monitor tree health• Rotate through paddocks • Broadleaf plants can be planted if enough sunlight

penetration-peas, kale etc. do well in the winter

NC Cooperative Extension  “Pastured Pork Basics”https://stokes.ces.ncsu.edu/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/Pastured‐Pork‐Basics.pdf?fwd=noCornell http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2016/01/11/pigs‐n‐trees/

https://ucanr.edu/sites/placernevadasmallfarms/Livestock/Swine/

Wallow management

• Pigs don’t sweat, so they roll in mud/water to help regulate temperature/insect management

• They will create a wallow if you do not provide one 

• Can sacrifice an area

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Feed

Nutrition needs-grain• Pre‐mixed feed

‐Different blends for the life stage of the animal‐read labels!‐Check quality‐Best if just getting started

• Grinding feed‐Protein‐ soybean meal, cotton seed meal and alfalfa hay‐Carbohydrates‐corn, milo and barley‐Fat‐corn oil, soybean oil, vegetable oil‐Vitamins and minerals‐Other feed additives‐Grinding you own feed requires a lot more equipment, tractor, grinder, feed storage

• Mycotoxins! Get good corn.• Feeders

‐Self feeders‐should have food access 24/7, cover

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Water Needs

Class                                   gallon/pig/dayGestating sow                            2 to 3Lactating sow  4 to 5Starting pig (13 to 45 lb)  .5 to 1Growing pig (45 to 130 lb)  1Finishing pig (130 to 250 lb)  1.5 to 2

https://animalscience.unl.edu/Extension/Swine/swinenutrition.pdf

Water Pointers*Pigs play *Fresh, assessable, nipple watering systems *Have a plan for winter/summer management

http://porkgateway.org/resource/water‐recommendations‐and‐systems‐for‐swine/

Item 12-30lb 30-75lb 75-125lb 125lb + Breeding herd

Pigs/nipple 10 10 12-15 12-15 12-15

Height, inches 6-12 12-18 18-24 24-30 30-36

Table 2. Nipple drinker stocking and height recommendations [15].

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Shelter• Mobile shelters

-A-frame-Shade cloth-Pig huts

• Permanent structures-Hoop house-Modified Open Front

-Natural shade(woods)

Needs to be sturdy!

Small Scale/Pasture Raised Pork, J. Humphrey, T. Safranski, University of Missouri

Summer cooling>80 degrees, can have heat stress on pigs over 100lbsProvide:1) Water/misters/wallow2) Shade3) Ventilation/fans4) Adjust feeding times5) Adjust animal handling times

https://extension.psu.edu/keeping‐pigs‐cool‐in‐the‐summer‐heat

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Cold temperaturesPigs up to 50 lbs are very sensitive to cold weather

Provide:1) Shelter2) Reduce drafts3) Heat lamps/mats4) Deep straw bedding5) Plastic/wood/rubber flooring

vs concrete/metal6) Keep pigs dry7) Limit multiple stressors

https://extension.wsu.edu/animalag/content/environmental‐management‐of‐young‐pigs‐during‐cool‐weather/

Issues/management Prevention first!• Buy from reputable breeder• Rest pastures-every third year • Clean/disinfect tools and boots• Vaccinate—withdrawal times—

recordkeeping!• Sick bay• Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship

(VCPR)• Biosecurity practices

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Issues/managementIssues• Soil based parasites/bacteria• Flies/other insects/plants• Diseases-viral (influenza), respiratory• Genetic or injury -neurological• Sun burn/other skin issues• Hernia• Death

http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/php/plants.php?action=display&ispecies=swine

RecordkeepingPig identification• Ear tags/notches• Pen/paddock numbers• Appearance (if small enough

numbers)• Tattoos

Daily observations/medical• Write it down!• Document medicines/vaccines

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Traceability-Premise ID Number (PIN)• Indiana requires registration of all premises associated with

livestock that are bought, sold and/or exhibited.• Register through IN State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)• Your information is protected• BOAH uses this in case of an animal health emergency so

they can notify any nearby farms

• More information at https://www.in.gov/boah/

Manure managementIf you have areas to clean out  and have excess manure/bedding, remember:• Have a manure management plan • Setbacks/environmental/odor• Clean pens help with pest management• Pen arrangement 

• Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC)‐ regulatory agency‐oversees fertilizer rule in IN https://www.oisc.purdue.edu/fertilizer/forms.html

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BiosecurityBiosecurity‐prevent transmission of disease and disease agents on the farm• Internal‐Prevent disease movement within herd‐Sick pens ‐Sanitize feeders/tools

• External‐Keep disease out‐Boots‐Vehicles‐Visitors

• Rodent/pest control‐Remove feed sources‐Prevent cover/shelter‐Bait/trap

Safety

Human• Minimize time you have to be in pen

‐Feed/water from outside• Cleaning protocol• Training• Emergency contact info.

Pig• Make sure to check feeders, fencing, shelters

• When sick avoid being with pigs (if possible)

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Useful tools

Marketing-Have plan A and B• Meat, piglet, breeder sales only profit option• Stockyards not viable

-PQA+ training-Premise tags

• Meat-direct to consumer or restaurants-Whole/half animals or individual packages-Check local licensing requirements/IN Dept.

of Health• Processors

-Federal vs State Inspected

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Questions?

Valerie ClingermanPurdue Extension‐Knox County4259 N Purdue Rd. Vincennes 47591812‐882‐3509Clingerman@purdue.edu