Organic Pig Production

Introduction to Organic Farming, Biology I, Biology II, Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Health, Animal Reproduction

The classes are of theoretical-practical nature. An expository methodology is used for the presentation of the theoretical material, exemplified then with practical exercises or activities in the ESAC pig-farm.

1) In the classroom with Powerpoint presentations and videos.

2) In the execution of practical work in the field (management of ESAC pig-farm and private farms outside of school), in the laboratory of the farm (natural reproduction, artificial insemination and methods of diagnosis of pregnancy)

3) In the bibliographic research and the analysis of articles and reports on the contents of the curricular unit.

The student should achieve skills of organic pig production (MPB/OPP) in the following areas:

Know the pig breeds adapted for organic production and the production cycle; Know the reproductive management of pigs in MPB and the management of newborn piglets, in the rearing and fattening of piglets; Processing of Organic Meat Products; Know the factors that cause “stress” in animals during transport to the slaughterhouse and the rules for slaughtering organic pigs; Know important diseases that affect pigs in MPB; Know how to prevent these diseases; Know how to define the animal biosafety plan and the Action Plan for the prevention of African swine fever.

Know the factors that affect Animal Welfare; Identify the characteristics of the different MPB production systems; Analyze, plan and implement adequate housing and environmental conditioning systems and adequate feeding systems for pigs in MPB; Know the feeding management of animals in different phases of the production cycle (males, females in different phases of the reproductive cycle, piglets and fattening pigs; Evaluate performance and develop management strategies in pig farms in MPB; Know how to carry out certification of organic production facilities and organic animal products.

To achieve the objectives of the course and the foreseen competencies for students, the teaching process is based on the contents in the following two modules:

Module 1 – Production Cycle, Pig Reproduction, Pig Health and Slaughter (40%)

1) Pig breeds adapted for organic production and production cycle

2) Reproductive management in organic production.

3) Management for disease prevention in suckling and weaning piglets.

4) Transport of animals and the slaughter process of organic pigs

5) Important diseases affecting pigs in MPB and their prevention, Biosafety plan suitable for organic pig production, Action plan for the prevention of African swine fever.

Module 2 – Pig Production, Feeding and Housing Systems (60%)

1) Organic Pig Production Systems.

2) Formulation and feeding management of pigs at different stages (Male; Females: replacement gilts, sows at different stages of gestation and at the time of birth; Piglets – rearing and rearing; Fattening) in organic production mode.

3) Factors that affect animal welfare;

4) Housing and environmental conditioning for pig farms in MPB.

5) Production management, records and performance evaluation.

6) Certification of the farm facility as organic.

Continuous Evaluation

Marks Module 1 (M1) = 0.8* Written test (T1) + 0.2*Practical work (P1)

Marks Module 2 (M2) = 0.8* Written test (T2) + 0.2* Practical work (P2)

Final Classification = 0.4*M1 (40%) +0.6*M2 (60%) = 100%

Evaluation By Exam

Written exam (TP) (100%) -  Final Classification = 40%M1+ 60%M2

A student is approved when he has completed the minimum value of attendance in the classes (75% for each type of class), obtained a minimum value of 7.5 values in each component (writing and practice) within each module, obtained a weighted average of the classifications of the modules equal to or greater than 9.5 values and a classification in each of the modules,  equal to or greater than 7.5 values. In each school year, a student who does not pass during the teaching period has access to a final exam assessment.

When approval is not obtained by continuous evaluation, the student has access to a final exam. The conditions of evaluation in the final examinations, during the normal, the supplementary and the special exam seasons, are described in the regulation of evaluation of the use of students of the Agrarian Higher School of Coimbra, ref: RG_RAAE, de 14-03-2018 and other applicable legislation.

Partial exemption is possible at the time of the normal exam and the re-evaluation examination for the students who have at least 75% of attendance in classes, as presented in RG_RAAE, of 14-03-2018, article 11 point 11.

In the special examination the test focuses on the subjects taught in the two modules.

NAO