BAYNESFIELD TRAINING ACADEMY
TRAINING COURSES
Baynesfield Training Academy will be a training service provider in the field of Pig
Production, covering accredited training at NQF levels 1 to 6. The training will cover
all aspects of pig production (knowledge and skills) and the management of the pig
production units (business skills). Training will be focussed on the developing pig
farmer to improve their knowledge and skills of pig production to ensure the
economic sustainability of developing pig farmers. The emphasis of the training will
also be on entrepreneurship and been a commercially viable pig unit. Training will
also be provided on various levels of knowledge and skills to the following clients: pig
farm owners/managers, pig farm labourers, extension officers, students, learners, the
agricultural sector and the general public.
The following courses are proposed to be offered at the Training Academy:
Developing pig farm owners/managers (NQF Levels 3 to 5)
1. Beginners course – introduction to pig production
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Basic terminology, pig breeds, housing requirements, basic pig health
 Introduction to the full cycle in a piggery from farrowing to farrowing
(farrowing, weaning, heat detection, mating, dry and late gestation
management of sows)
 Basic management of growing pigs and boars
 Target learners are developing pig farmers, developing pig farm
managers, identified supervisors and anyone wanting to learn about
pig production
2. Intermediate course – basics of pig production
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Basics of breeding and selection, feeding and nutrition, animal health,
housing and biosecurity
 Management of gilts and sows through a full production cycle from
farrowing to farrowing
 The management of growing pigs and boars
 Target learners are developing pig farmers, developing pig farm
managers, identified supervisors and anyone wanting to learn about
pig production
3. Advanced course in pig production
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Management of breeding stock, use of AI, record keeping, feeding and
nutrition, and animal health
 Management of gilts and sows to improve efficiency of production
 The management of growing and finishing pigs
 The economics of pig production and marketing
 Target learners are developing pig farmers, developing pig farm
managers, identified supervisors and anyone wanting to learn about
pig production
4. Artificial insemination
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 days at academy
 Covers basic female and male reproduction, heat detection, timing of
insemination, handling of semen, AI technique, gilt management and
sow management
 Target learners are developing pig farm owners, farm managers and
supervisors on pig farms
Commercial pig farm owners/managers (NQF Levels 5 and 6)
1. Pig Management course
 40% theory : 60% practical skills
 Duration of course 6 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks
on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Basic terminology, pig breeds, breeding and selection, housing
requirements, feeding and nutrition, pig health and welfare, biosecurity
and record keeping
 Management of the full production cycle in a piggery from farrowing to
farrowing (farrowing, weaning, heat detection, mating, dry and late
gestation management of sows)
 Management of gilts
 Management of boars
 Management of weaners and growing pigs
 Target learners are new commercial pig farmers, commercial pig farm
managers, identified supervisors, graduates, higher education
learners, and anyone in the agricultural sector wanting to learn about
pig production
2. Advanced pig management
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60% theory : 40% practical skills
Duration of course 4 weeks
2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy
Advanced breeding and selection practices
Housing requirements and welfare of pigs
Advanced feeding and nutrition
Management of gilts and sows to improve efficiency of production
The management of growing and finishing pigs
Advanced record keeping systems
The economics of pig production and marketing
Best practices
Target learners are commercial pig farmers, commercial pig farm
managers, graduates, higher education learners, and anyone in the
agricultural sector wanting to learn more about pig production
3. Artificial insemination
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 days at academy
 Covers basic female and male reproduction, heat detection, timing of
insemination, handling of semen, AI technique, gilt management and
sow management
 Target learners are commercial pig farmers, commercial pig farm
managers, graduates, higher education learners, and anyone in the
agricultural sector wanting to learn about artificial insemination of pigs
Pig farm labourers (NQF Level 1 and 2)
1. Farrowing house management
 20% theory : 80% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks back on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Covers full cycle from pre-farrowing to weaning
 Target learners are farm workers and farrowing house attendants
2. Boar/sow management
 20% theory : 80% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks back on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Covers full cycle from weaning, heat detection, mating, dry and late
gestation management of sows
 The care and management of boars
 Target learners are farm workers and boar/sow house workers
3. Artificial insemination
 20% theory : 80% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 days at academy
 Covers heat detection, timing of insemination, handling of semen, AI
technique, gilt management and sow management
 Target learners are farm workers and boar/sow house workers
4. General pig management
 20% theory : 80% practical skills
 Duration of course 4 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks back on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 Covers all general management aspects of animal behaviour, feeding,
animal health, record keeping, mating, farrowing and biosecurity
 Management of weaners, growers and finishers
 Target learners are farm workers and farrowing house attendants
5. Supervisors (NQF Level 2)
 30% theory : 70% practical skills
 Duration of course 6 weeks
 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks on farm, 2 weeks at academy, 2 weeks
on farm, 2 weeks at academy
 General management covering full cycle from farrowing to farrowing,
management of sows, boars, weaners, growers and finishers
 Leadership and supervisory skills such as problem solving,
organisational skills, record keeping, labour relations and planning
 Target learners are farm workers identified with leadership ability
Extension officers (NQF Level 5 and 6)
1. Pigs for profit course
 60% theory : 40% practical skills
 Duration of course 1 week
 1 weeks at academy
 Basic terminology, pig breeds, housing requirements, basic pig health
 Management of a the full cycle in a piggery from farrowing to farrowing
(farrowing, weaning, heat detection, mating, dry and late gestation
management of sows)
 Management of gilts and boars
 Management of weaners and growers
 Economics and marketing of pig production
 Problem identification and solving problems
 Target learners are extension officers dealing with new projects in
communities, developing pig farms, commercial pig farms and
interacting with the pig industry
2. Pig management for extension officers
 60% theory : 40% practical skills
 Duration of course 2 weeks
 2 weeks at academy
 Breeding and selection practices
 Housing requirements and welfare of pigs
 Feeding and nutrition
 Management of gilts and sows to improve efficiency of production
 The management of growing and finishing pigs
 Record keeping systems
 The economics of pig production and marketing
 Best practices and problem solving
 Target learners are extension officers dealing with new projects in
communities, developing pig farms, commercial pig farms and
interacting with the pig industry
Students of further education and higher education institutions would benefit from
visits to the facility to do specific practical skills or for the institution to develop a
specific programme that is required for the student to qualify. These students could
attend any of the above courses or a combination of these.
Learners at agricultural high schools would benefit from visits to the facility to do
specific practical skills that are required as part of the school curriculum or for the
school to develop a specific programme that is required by the learner for a specific
subject. These learners could attend some of the above courses or a combination of
these.
The agricultural sector and general public (farmers, managers, public sector,
company representatives, smallholders, interested individuals, etc.) could attend any
of the above courses or a combination of these depending on what their needs and
requirements are.
Business skills courses (NQF Level 6)
1.
Entrepreneurship
2.
Basic business skills
3.
Business planning
4.
Farm record keeping
5.
Farm accounting
6.
Financial management
These business skills courses will be 1 week in duration and will be presented by
specialists in the field. These courses will be accredited and a certificate will be
presented to all learners that successfully complete the course. These courses are
aimed at farm owners, farm managers, graduates, employees in the agricultural
sector and the general public.