Kohima: The All India Coordinated Research Project on pig (AICRP-pig) Nagaland centre, organized a one day ‘Hands on training on health care of pigs’ on Friday at the Livestock Instructional farm premises, School of Agricultural Science and Rural Development (SASRD).
Dr. Razouneinuo Züyie (Asst. Prof.) Department of Livestock Production and Management (LPM) briefed the students on the correct way of approaching and handling of farm animals, basic health care and sterilization (castration) of male pigs to avoid unwanted breeding and to produce desirable quality pork meat with faster growth rate.
Dr. M. Catherine Rutsa, Assistant Professor, Dept. LPM, NU-SASRD, apprised the students on the importance of personal health protection while handling pigs. Livestock owners or attendants with cut wounds and long fingernails were advised not to handle animals specially wound dressing, castration and during farrowing (act of giving birth) time. This is to safe guard oneself and animals from contacting or spreading zoonotic diseases.
The students were introduced to the different breeds (Hampshire, Tenyi Vo and up-graded Tenyi Vo) pigs available in the farm. Fifty-five B.Sc. (Ag) students attended practical in the morning session and seven progressive pig farmers in the afternoon session. Nine male piglets of 3 weeks old and two sows’ farrowed were castrated, and farmers performed care and management of newly born piglets (14 nos.), naval cord and needle teeth cutting following all possible aseptic measures, under the supervision of Dr. Rüüsalie Nakhro (JRF) AICRP-pig, Nagaland Centre.
The trainees checked on the newly born piglets in the creep box and assisted them in suckling of the mother sow milk Colostrum.
