Misconception one: The most advanced equipment is always the best.
The hot-air furnace is equipped with a temperature control device, but because the boiler operator has limited education and cannot use it correctly, the temperature often gets out of control. After the automatic water-supply equipment is put into use, it often goes unnoticed, and people only discover it when the water runs out, resulting in a water outage.
The correct approach: advanced equipment must be coordinated with highly qualified personnel.
Misconception two: Good epidemic prevention can prevent infectious diseases from occurring.
The vaccine’s protective efficacy is not 100%; it is affected by factors such as vaccine quality, the pigs’ physical condition, stress, whether the immune system has been compromised, and the quantity and virulence of the pathogens. Pigs that have been vaccinated may still develop disease when challenged by a large amount of highly virulent pathogens.
Misconception three: Expensive pigs, feed, and medicine are good.
Anything has both advantages and disadvantages; the more pronounced the advantages, the more pronounced the disadvantages tend to be. For example, pig breeds with a high lean meat percentage can be prone to high stress, difficulty with estrus and breeding, and demanding husbandry requirements. If the conditions are not met, their advantages are difficult to realize, while their disadvantages can readily become apparent. Meanwhile, high-priced feed, when fed under favorable conditions to excellent-qualityBreeding pigCan result in very high production performance, such as when used to feed local varietiesBreeding pig, or feed pigs under poor husbandry conditions, will not only fail to achieve high production performance but may also have adverse effects. The same applies to expensive medicines: if they are not suited to the condition, they will not treat the disease and may delay treatment. For example, florfenicol is a new broad-spectrum antibacterial drug that can maintain a high concentration in the respiratory tract. It is highly effective against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis, and others, but when using itTreatmentColibacillosis will not have a good outcome.
Misconception four: Hire a highTechnologyTalent can save a field.
The rise and fall of a pig farm is related to many factors, such as business strategy, management capabilities, and the quality of its employees,TechnologyLevel, etc.,TechnologyLevel is only one factor. Even the most skilledTechnology, it is of no use to encounter a pig farm that cannot even afford to buy feed;TechnologyMeasures need strict management as a guarantee; if oneTechnologyDuring implementation, measures may not be carried through to the end and may become distorted midway, no matter how high theTechnologyThat won't work either.
Misconception five: Requiring all employees to have a high level of education
Pig farming is not a high-tech undertaking. Having too many highly educated employees, when there are not enough suitable positions for them, may undermine their self-esteem if they are asked to do manual labor. As a result, their work may not be as effective as that of less-educated employees.
The correct approach: coordination is also needed at the employee level.
Misconception six: The more detailed the reward and penalty system, the more reasonable it is.
When a system of rewards and penalties is first established, it may seem reasonable, but problems will arise to a greater or lesser extent during implementation. Some venues therefore make the rules extremely detailed, but this does not produce good results. Once the rules become too detailed, most employees cannot understand them and keep working in confusion, unsure whether good or poor performance will be rewarded or penalized. Over time, they may feel deceived.
The right approach: Policies established for employees must be clear to them.
Misconception seven: As long as we maintain a good environment and disinfect rigorously, we can raise pigs well.
This is another misconception about pig farming. Maintaining a good environment and carrying out strict disinfection are very important factors in raising pigs successfully, but they are not the only factors. Pig farming also requires feed, suitable breeds, reproduction management, and regular preventive medication. The lack of complete feed, the use of breeds with poor production performance, low litter sizes, and low sale prices for fattening pigs can all affect the profitability of pig farming. At the same time, a good environment and disinfection can only reduce the chances of disease spreading through the herd—in other words, they can only prevent disease, not cure it. They are therefore less effective for a herd that is already sick. In addition, no disinfectant can kill every pathogen.
Misconception eight: Premix quality is more or less the same, so the cheaper the price, the better.
Many feed sales representatives say that all premixes are more or less the same in quality. In fact, however, every premix has its own characteristics; they simply differ in their intended applications. A premix is a combination of trace elements, vitamins, and special drugs. Its quality is affected by the following factors: A. The quality of the raw materials, such as the content of the main components, the properties of the diluents, and the stability of the raw material components. B. The intended application of the drugs: some premixes target digestive tract diseases, some target respiratory diseases, some target stress-reducing drugs, while others place greater emphasis on providing a complete amino acid profile. C. The drug content. This can have a major impact later on. This is why, after using a premix from one farm, feed from another farm may no longer work. The premix used at the first farm may have contained an excessive dose of antibacterial drugs or a combination of multiple drugs, causing the pigs to develop drug dependence and resistance. Once the drug dosage is reduced or the number of drugs is decreased, some pathogens may proliferate extensively and cause disease.
Misconception nine: The longer the feed mixing time, the better.
If the feed is mixed for too long, the ingredients may separate, with heavier components settling and lighter components rising, resulting in artificial unevenness.
Misconception ten: The misconception about the validity period
Feed packaging has an expiry date, medicine instructions have an expiry date, and vaccine instructions have one too. People sometimes think that something can be used if it is within its expiry period and cannot be used once that period has passed. In fact, the expiry period of any item is not absolute. Deterioration is a gradual process that depends on both the length of time and storage conditions. For example, swine fever vaccine has a shelf life of one year when stored at 20℃ below zero, but if stored at 10℃, it would not last one year and might last only a few days.
Correct approach: Consider the shelf life, which must be assessed in conjunction with storage conditions.
Concluding remarks
Regarding the ten misconceptions about managing pig farms listed above, truly master-levelPig farmerBefore that, there should also be a little shame.
The hot-air furnace is equipped with a temperature control device, but because the boiler operator has limited education and cannot use it correctly, the temperature often gets out of control. After the automatic water-supply equipment is put into use, it often goes unnoticed, and people only discover it when the water runs out, resulting in a water outage.
The correct approach: advanced equipment must be coordinated with highly qualified personnel.
Misconception two: Good epidemic prevention can prevent infectious diseases from occurring.
The vaccine’s protective efficacy is not 100%; it is affected by factors such as vaccine quality, the pigs’ physical condition, stress, whether the immune system has been compromised, and the quantity and virulence of the pathogens. Pigs that have been vaccinated may still develop disease when challenged by a large amount of highly virulent pathogens.
Misconception three: Expensive pigs, feed, and medicine are good.
Anything has both advantages and disadvantages; the more pronounced the advantages, the more pronounced the disadvantages tend to be. For example, pig breeds with a high lean meat percentage can be prone to high stress, difficulty with estrus and breeding, and demanding husbandry requirements. If the conditions are not met, their advantages are difficult to realize, while their disadvantages can readily become apparent. Meanwhile, high-priced feed, when fed under favorable conditions to excellent-qualityBreeding pigCan result in very high production performance, such as when used to feed local varietiesBreeding pig, or feed pigs under poor husbandry conditions, will not only fail to achieve high production performance but may also have adverse effects. The same applies to expensive medicines: if they are not suited to the condition, they will not treat the disease and may delay treatment. For example, florfenicol is a new broad-spectrum antibacterial drug that can maintain a high concentration in the respiratory tract. It is highly effective against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis, and others, but when using itTreatmentColibacillosis will not have a good outcome.
Misconception four: Hire a highTechnologyTalent can save a field.
The rise and fall of a pig farm is related to many factors, such as business strategy, management capabilities, and the quality of its employees,TechnologyLevel, etc.,TechnologyLevel is only one factor. Even the most skilledTechnology, it is of no use to encounter a pig farm that cannot even afford to buy feed;TechnologyMeasures need strict management as a guarantee; if oneTechnologyDuring implementation, measures may not be carried through to the end and may become distorted midway, no matter how high theTechnologyThat won't work either.
Misconception five: Requiring all employees to have a high level of education
Pig farming is not a high-tech undertaking. Having too many highly educated employees, when there are not enough suitable positions for them, may undermine their self-esteem if they are asked to do manual labor. As a result, their work may not be as effective as that of less-educated employees.
The correct approach: coordination is also needed at the employee level.
Misconception six: The more detailed the reward and penalty system, the more reasonable it is.
When a system of rewards and penalties is first established, it may seem reasonable, but problems will arise to a greater or lesser extent during implementation. Some venues therefore make the rules extremely detailed, but this does not produce good results. Once the rules become too detailed, most employees cannot understand them and keep working in confusion, unsure whether good or poor performance will be rewarded or penalized. Over time, they may feel deceived.
The right approach: Policies established for employees must be clear to them.
Misconception seven: As long as we maintain a good environment and disinfect rigorously, we can raise pigs well.
This is another misconception about pig farming. Maintaining a good environment and carrying out strict disinfection are very important factors in raising pigs successfully, but they are not the only factors. Pig farming also requires feed, suitable breeds, reproduction management, and regular preventive medication. The lack of complete feed, the use of breeds with poor production performance, low litter sizes, and low sale prices for fattening pigs can all affect the profitability of pig farming. At the same time, a good environment and disinfection can only reduce the chances of disease spreading through the herd—in other words, they can only prevent disease, not cure it. They are therefore less effective for a herd that is already sick. In addition, no disinfectant can kill every pathogen.
Misconception eight: Premix quality is more or less the same, so the cheaper the price, the better.
Many feed sales representatives say that all premixes are more or less the same in quality. In fact, however, every premix has its own characteristics; they simply differ in their intended applications. A premix is a combination of trace elements, vitamins, and special drugs. Its quality is affected by the following factors: A. The quality of the raw materials, such as the content of the main components, the properties of the diluents, and the stability of the raw material components. B. The intended application of the drugs: some premixes target digestive tract diseases, some target respiratory diseases, some target stress-reducing drugs, while others place greater emphasis on providing a complete amino acid profile. C. The drug content. This can have a major impact later on. This is why, after using a premix from one farm, feed from another farm may no longer work. The premix used at the first farm may have contained an excessive dose of antibacterial drugs or a combination of multiple drugs, causing the pigs to develop drug dependence and resistance. Once the drug dosage is reduced or the number of drugs is decreased, some pathogens may proliferate extensively and cause disease.
Misconception nine: The longer the feed mixing time, the better.
If the feed is mixed for too long, the ingredients may separate, with heavier components settling and lighter components rising, resulting in artificial unevenness.
Misconception ten: The misconception about the validity period
Feed packaging has an expiry date, medicine instructions have an expiry date, and vaccine instructions have one too. People sometimes think that something can be used if it is within its expiry period and cannot be used once that period has passed. In fact, the expiry period of any item is not absolute. Deterioration is a gradual process that depends on both the length of time and storage conditions. For example, swine fever vaccine has a shelf life of one year when stored at 20℃ below zero, but if stored at 10℃, it would not last one year and might last only a few days.
Correct approach: Consider the shelf life, which must be assessed in conjunction with storage conditions.
Concluding remarks
Regarding the ten misconceptions about managing pig farms listed above, truly master-levelPig farmerBefore that, there should also be a little shame.