Complete and balanced foods from weaning to the final fattening of pigs and specially prepared diets for sows and boars. Natural foods with high digestibility and convertibility, which benefit the well-being, proper development and performance of animals.
KAZAKOS D. & G. OE

Pig breeding

Its popularity in the Greek diet (among livestock products) may be extremely high but it is not the same with its production. The reason for the Greek pork, the self-sufficiency of which has been decreasing in recent years and today does not exceed 30% of the total domestic consumption. According to what representatives of the area tell us, pig farming in Greece is considered one of the important sectors of the Agricultural Economy, with a share in the Gross Value of Animal Production of approximately 18.0%. However, the problems faced by companies are many due mainly to the high cost of production, lack of liquidity, the inability of pig farms to meet their loan obligations and significant deficiencies in import controls (Greekization). But what everyone is advocating is that despite the problems, pig farming can flourish again, taking advantage of the significant demand for this type of meat, reaching even the levels of the ‘30s with the organization and modernization of the country's pig farms.
The pig is a monogastric, omnivorous farm animal, particularly highly fertile. It can give birth up to 5 times in two years, from 10-12 piglets at a time. Pigs are raised for meat production and have impressive yields, if we consider that a sow 150-200 kg has the capacity to produce, through its offspring, about 2 tons of live weight per year (10 times its weight). Improved pigs have a high yield in meat, about 75-80% of their body weight and reach a growth rate of 800-900g per day. Finally, the amount of food they consume to produce 1 kg of meat is between 2.5 and 3 kg (feed utilization rate: 2.5-3.0).
Pig farming systems can be divided into two broad categories: intensive and extensive. In intensive systems, there is an intensification of the use of productive factors (soil, livestock, labor, etc.), using high-yield hybrids, which are housed in areas with high breeding density. The effort in these systems is focused on fully developing the productive potential of the animals by utilizing the latest technology and the appropriate diets. The goal is to produce the maximum amount of meat in the shortest possible time and at the lowest cost.
On the other hand, in the extensor systems the animals are kept in groups inside fenced areas, where they graze freely and supplementary feed is given according to the needs and the productive stage, in which they are. Advantages of the extensible systems are the low investments in facilities and equipment, the small operating costs, the production of meat and products with particularly organoleptic characteristics, the improvement of the level of well-being, the minimal animal health problems and the small environmental burden.
As mentioned above, the pig is a fast growing farm animal. The duration of pregnancy, ie the period from the fertilization of the female to the birth of the piglets is about 114 days (3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days). Piglets stay with their mother for 3 to 4 weeks. ». From there, they are fed with proper diets, which meet their energy and protein requirements, with the ultimate goal of producing high quality meat.
The fattening period lasts about 20 to 24 weeks. On the other hand, the sow, after weaning her piglets, is usually re-fertilized within a week, after she has first shown estrus. Usually, the sow is kept on the farm for 3 years, so if we consider that it is fertilized for the first time at the age of 4-5 months, it is estimated that it gives birth on average 5 to 6 times in its productive life.
The application of artificial insemination has given a great impetus to the development of pig farming. In addition to the economic benefits associated with keeping fewer boars on the farm than natural ostriches (about 1 in 100 females compared to 1 in 20, respectively) it also offers faster genetic progression, as it allows sows to be fertilized. with boar semen with very high hereditary values, while the transmission of reproductive diseases and infections is limited. In order to achieve high productive yields on the pig farm, specific conditions regarding the needs of the animals must be met.
Thus, special attention should be paid to the regulation of temperature on indoor farms, since although pigs at a young age have high heat requirements, as the high temperatures increase they cause a reduction in feed consumption, growth rate and reproductive performance. At the same time, the satisfactory ventilation of the unit helps to regulate the temperature but also to remove the dangerous gases produced in a pigsty, such as ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2), odors and associated with diseases of the respiratory system of both pigs and workers. Finally, the existence of smooth, non-slip grooved floors, with adequate drainage minimizes animal discomfort.
Another factor that needs special attention is the diet of pigs, depending on their production stage. Offering balanced diets, which meet the animals' needs for energy and protein at the lowest cost, is a priority for the pig farmer, as the cost of feeding the pigs reaches 55 to 70% of the total costs of the farm. Cereal-based diets are commonly used, but have been properly processed to improve digestion. These diets are deficient in some of the essential amino acids (threonine, lysine, methionine, cystine and tryptophan), which the animal's body is unable to synthesize and their use is necessary for protein synthesis and consequently meat production. , so their additional participation in appropriate quantities in the diet is considered necessary. Finally, the diet also includes a premix or balance of vitamins and minerals, substances that are necessary for the smooth development of many biological processes.
Of course, attention should also be paid to the level of food administration, as both excessive and insufficient consumption should be avoided. For example, voluntary feeding of breeding animals is not appropriate because it is associated with increased fat deposition, which adversely affects reproductive performance. But also during the fattening of pigs, the way of feeding is different, since while initially it is at will, in the final stage it is changed to a limited diet (offering food in 4 meals a day and in an amount equal to about 75% of the diet) in order to reduce the fat content and improve the quality of the carcass produced.
From the above it is understood that the breeding of pigs is not an easy task, since it is influenced by many factors. Pig farmers must constantly achieve high productivity ratios to ensure the viability of their farm. Judging by the increased needs of our country in pork (only 30-35% is covered by domestic production), we could assume that there is great scope for the development of the industry in our country.