SOP_NUMBER: 409.03.03
TITLE: Swine Operations
REFERENCE_CODE: IVM01-0003
DIVISION: Executive
TOPIC_AREA: 409 Policy-GCI Facility Farms
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2004-09-01
WORD_COUNT: 1323
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105473
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/409.03.03/
SUMMARY:
This policy establishes procedures for managing swine farming operations at GDC facilities to produce pork for inmate food service. It applies to all facilities with swine farms operated under Central Farm Services management. The policy covers personnel responsibilities, animal care and security, record keeping, breeding, gestation, and farrowing procedures, with emphasis on inmate supervision, staff training, animal welfare, and security protocols for medical supplies and tools.
KEY_TOPICS: swine operations, pork production, farm operations, inmate work assignments, animal care, breeding stock, gestation, farrowing, farm security, livestock inventory, animal welfare, farm management, correctional officer duties, farm staff training, biosecurity, animal health
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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**`Functional Area: `**
`CORRECTIONS DIVISION/`
`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|**`Reference Number: `**
`IVM01-0003`|**`Revises`**
**`Previous`**
**`Effective Date:`**
`12/15/02`|
|**`Subject:`**
`Swine Operations`|||
|**`Authority:`**
`DONALD/ADAMS`|**`Effective Date:`**
`9/01/04`|`Page 1 of`
`6 `|
```
I. POLICY:
GDC pork farms shall have the goal of efficient production of
pork to meet requirements established through analysis of food
service needs for the inmate population.
II. APPLICABILITY:
All facilities having swine farms established by Central
Office Food and Farm Services Subdivision and operating under
Central Farm Services management.
III. RELATED DIRECTIVES:
A. OCGA 40-5-6B
B. GDC SOPs: IVM01-0001, IIB01-0002, IIB01-0020, IID04-0004.
IV. DEFINITIONS:
NONE
V. ATTACHMENTS:
NONE
VI. PROCEDURE:
A. Swine Operations:
1. All swine facility operations are under the overall
direction of the State Farm Administrator, State
Farm Advisor, Institutional Farm Manager, and
University of Georgia personnel, where applicable.
B. Personnel:
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1. Operation supervisor shall delegate duties to
correctional officers, and is responsible for the
supervision of all work projects.
2. Correctional officers shall pick up and transport
inmates to and from work areas, and shall provide
necessary supervision and security.
3. All farm staff in non-security positions shall be
acutely aware of the need for inmate security at all
times and shall support correctional officers in
security-related functions if it is necessary for
the maintenance of security. Said staff shall also
observe all facility rules concerning security in
all contexts, and shall seek clarification from
supervisors or correctional officers when in doubt
concerning some security aspect of the farm
operation.
4. All staff shall hold the care and health of animals
used in the operation to be of utmost importance.
Animal abuse or mistreatment by inmates or staff
shall be vigorously prohibited and dealt with in an
appropriate manner if it occurs. Offenders shall
not be allowed to work in a Georgia Department of
Corrections animal enterprise if they have any known
history of animal abuse.
5. All staff will be held accountable for insuring
availability of quality drinking water. Water
checks will be done a minimum of twice daily.
6. Untrained staff can contaminate swine units, causing
severe losses. Therefore, correctional officers
assigned to the swine unit are to receive on-the-job
training in working with swine and should not be
routinely rotated away from the swine unit once
trained.
7. Supervisors and correctional officers shall keep
informed in modern swine operations techniques by
participating in short-courses and/or classes, which
may be offered.
```
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8. Inmates assigned to swine production units will be
supervised in accordance with Departmental rules and
regulations governing inmates.
9. Weekend work necessary to continuous farming
operations will be handled through scheduling of
inmates as needed, subject to official limitation on
length of offender workweek.
C. Record Keeping:
1. Accurate records pertaining to farm inventory are
maintained, and Livestock Monthly Report is
submitted to the State Farm Administrator's Office.
(Refer to SOP IVM01-0001.)
2. The State Farm Advisor will monitor livestock
inventories.
D. Security:
1. Syringes, needles, medicines, scalpel blades and
similar supplies are stored in a secure place, and
are checked out to inmates in accordance with
institutional security regulations. A record is
kept indicating what was issued, to whom issued, and
the time that the item was returned.
2. Other tools are issued in the same manner.
3. A daily and monthly inventory is kept on all items
for security and restocking purposes. Disposable
items such as needles, syringes, and scalpel blades
are accounted for and secured in the same manner as
non-disposable items.
4. Appropriate reports, as required by Departmental and
Institutional policy, shall be made to the Deputy
Warden of Security.
E. Breeding:
1. Sows and gilts are bred according to an organized
schedule.
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```
2. Breeding is conducted in designated breeding pens,
and hand mating is utilized. Accurate records are
kept on matings.
3. Breeding stock is fed by hand once daily.
4. Sows and boars are wormed every six months, and
receive vaccinations on a regular basis; boar tusks
are removed on an as-needed basis.
5. Purchases of breeding stock are to be conducted by
the State Farm Advisor, or by designee appointed by
the State Farm Administrator.
6. Selection of replacement gilts is based upon the
reproductive performance of their mothers, utilizing
a sow productivity indexing system. Accurate
performance records are kept on all breeding stock.
7. After breeding, sows are moved to gestation
facility.
8. Sows culled from the herd are sold at market. Boars
culled from the herd are sold at market.
9. Floor of breeding facility is kept properly cleaned
and sanitized.
a. Floor is rinsed daily.
b. A thorough cleaning is conducted between groups
using an approved disinfectant.
F. Gestation:
1. Sows in gestation facility are hand fed once a day.
2. Sows are kept in pens according to group during the
gestation phase.
3. Open sows are culled and sent to sale.
4. Waste management system is flushed in accordance
with system design.
G. Farrowing:
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`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
`9/01/04`|`Reference Number:`
`IVM01-0003`|
```
1. Sows are moved into farrowing facilities one week
prior to farrowing date.
2. Sows are hand fed daily a predetermined amount of
feed.
3. Farrowing is supervised whenever possible.
4. Following birth, pigs are to be ear notched, given
iron vaccinations, tails docked, and needle teeth
clipped at one to three days of age. At ten days of
age, male pigs are castrated.
5. Three days prior to weaning, litters are weighed and
counted. Accurate records are maintained.
6. Sows, which are not highly productive, are culled
from the herd. The decision to cull a sow is based
on information collected through the sow
productivity indexing system.
7. Facility is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between
groups.
a. After being completely emptied, facility is
cleaned with high-pressure spray and
disinfected.
b. Cement sealer is utilized to seal the concrete
flooring in an attempt to reduce the
possibility that the floor will harbor disease
organisms.
8. Waste management system is flushed in accordance
with system design.
H. Nursery:
1. Pigs are placed in the nursery at approximately 21
to 28 days of age.
2. Air temperature in early nursery phase is kept
```
`between 80` `F and 90` `F.`
```
3. Pigs are to be fed creep feed during the early
nursery phase.
```
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`CORRECTIONS DIVISION/`
`FACILITIES OPERATIONS`|`Effective Date:`
`9/01/04`|`Reference Number:`
`IVM01-0003`|
```
4. Pigs are sorted into pens based on pig size.
5. Pigs remain in the nursery facilities until
bodyweight of approximately 60 to 80 pounds is
reached; at which time they are moved into the
finishing facilities. Unthrifty or runt pigs may be
sold at market with local farm manager’s approval.
6. Waste management system in nursery should be flushed
at least one time each day.
I. Finishing:
1. Hogs are placed in pens in finishing facility
according to size.
2. Hogs in finishing phase are treated with medications
as needed. Withdrawal times for these medications
prior to slaughter are carefully observed, and are
in accordance with USDA guidelines.
3. Hogs are sent to slaughter at approximately 240
pounds bodyweight.
4. Finishing facilities are cleaned and sanitized
frequently. Older facilities must be scraped to
remove excess waste on an as-needed basis.
J. Safety:
1. Weekly safety meetings pertaining to work area
specific topics will be mandatory. A copy of the
meeting minutes including a list of attendees should
be maintained on site for a period of two (2) years.
2. It will be the responsibility of all Farm Staff to
monitor farm operations on a daily basis to insure
the safety of both the staff and inmates assigned to
this work area.
```