ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Pigs Flashcards
What is a gilt?
A gilt is an adult female that has not farrowed yet
Name two breeds of pig which are commonly used as dam line sows
Landrace
Large white
Identify this breed of pig
Landrace
Floppy ears
Identify this breed of pig
Large white
Pointy ears
What are terminal sire boars?
Terminal sire boars are used for the production of slaughter pigs
Name two breeds of pig which are commonly used as terminal sire boars
Pietrain
Hampshire
Identify this breed of pig
Pietrain
Identify this breed of pig
Hampshire
Name a breed of pig that can be used as both a dam line sow and a terminal sire boar
Duroc
Identify this breed of pig
Duroc
Name three breeds of pigs commonly used as pets
Vietnamese pot-belly
Kune Kune
Micro-pig
Identify this breed of pig
Vietnamese pot-belly
Identify this breed of pig
Kune Kune
Identify this breed of pig
Micro-pig
What is the main company which carries out quality assurance within Scottish pig farms?
Quality Meat Scotland
What is the normal temperature range for pigs?
38.6 - 39.1°C
What is the normal heart rate for adult pigs?
70 - 80bpm
What is the normal heart rate for weaner pigs?
90 - 100bpm
What is the normal respiratory rate for adult pigs?
13 - 18
What is the normal respiratory rate for weaner pigs?
30 - 40
How long is a sow oestrous cycle?
21 days
How long is a sow in oestrus?
24 - 72 hours
What is the average gestation period for a sow?
115 days
3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
What are the four main advantages of indoor pig production systems?
Higher production levels
Reduced feed costs
Easier biosecurity control
You can adapt an existing building into a piggery
What are the three main disadvantages of indoor pig production systems?
Public perception
Hight investment costs
Challenging waste management
What is the minimum environmental temperature for a group of sows housed indoors on straw?
15°C
What is the minimum environmental temperature for a group of sows housed indoors on concrete?
17°C
What is the minimum environmental temperature for an individual boar housed indoors on straw?
19°C
What is the minimum environmental temperature for an individual boar housed indoors on concrete?
22°C
What are the four main indoor housing requirements for boars?
Non-slip and non-abrasive flooring
Solid wall between boars
Good floor drainage
Located near weaned sows
What are three possible methods of feeding for indoor sows?
Dump feeders
Trickle feeders
Electronic sow feeders (ESF)
What are the four main advantages of outdoor pig production systems?
Public perception
Lower investment costs
Simple waste management
No planning restrictions
What are the six main disadvantages of outdoor pig production systems?
Weather
Increased risk of endoparasites
Social stressors
Biosecurity limitations
Increased feed costs
Lower production levels
What are three possible methods for feeding outdoor sows?
Electronic sow feeders (ESF)
Bucket fed
Trough fed
What is the most important amino acid within a pigs diet?
Lysine
Why is lysine such an important component in a pig diet?
Lysine is involved in hormone production
How many litres of water should a sow be consuming per day?
9 - 18 litres per day
What are the main dietary requirements for weaner pigs?
Energy: 15 - 18MJ
Protein: 22 - 25%
Lysine: 1.4 - 1.8%
Oil: 7 - 13%
What are the main dietary requirements for grower pigs?
Energy: 13 - 14MJ
Protein: 16 - 18%
Lysine: 0.75 - 0.9%
Oil: 2%
What are the main dietary requirements for finisher pigs?
Energy: 13MJ
Protein: 15 - 16%
Lysine: 0.7 - 0.75%
Oil: 2%
What are the main dietary requirements for dry (not lactating) sows?
Energy: 13 - 13.5MJ
Crude protein: 13 - 14%
Lysine: 0.7 - 0.8%
What are the main dietary requirements for lactating sows?
Energy: 13 - 14.5MJ
Crude protein: 16 - 19%
Lysine: 1 - 1.2%
What are the five consequences of a sow being too fat?
Prolonged farrowing
Poor appetite
Poor mammary gland development in gilts
Poor lactation
Higher piglet mortality
What are the five consequences of a sow being too thin?
Poor lactation
Poor quality/quantity of colostrum
Higher piglet mortality
Reduced litter size
Anoestrus at weaning
What is wallowing?
Wallowing is a behaviour seen in pigs where they will roll around and cover themselves in mud or water to cool off and protect their skin from the sun
What are the three main desirable characteristics for selective breeding of sows?
Increased litter size
Increased number of teats
Good mothering
What are the three methods of boar contact that can be used to stimulate puberty in gilts?
Full contact
Adjacent pens
Vocal and visual contact
At what age should gilts be served?
32 to 34 weeks of age (or after 2 to 3 oestrous cycles)
What is the ideal weight for a gilt before being served?
140 - 150kg
What are the four factors which could affect oestrus onset in sows?
Lactational anoestrus
Stressors
Nutrition during lactation and post-weaning
Seasonal effects (sows are less fertile in autumn)
What are the three signs of oestrus in a sow?
Restlessness
Mounting
Moist, red, swollen vulva
What are the three advantages of artificial insemination (AI) in the pig industry?
Introduces new genetics into the herd
Disease control
Supplements natural service so the boar isn’t overworked
What is the main disadvantage of artificial insemination (AI) in the pig industry?
Reduced conception rates due to operator error
At what temperature should boar semen be stored for artificial insemination?
17.5°C
What are the two essential post service management procedures?
Avoid social stressors
Reduce feed level for 72 hours to maximise embryo survival
How should you alter the sow diet during gestation?
Four to five days post-serving, increase the feed according to body condition and maintain this increased feed for the first 7 weeks of gestation to assist in placental growth. At day 90 of gestation, drop the feed back to maintenance feed. Reduce feed further two days prior to farrowing to prevent udder congestion
What are the six signs of farrowing in sows?
Restlessness
Loosened vulva
Nesting
Colostrum dripping
Tail twitching
Straining
What are the three main factors contributing to piglet mortality at birth?
Low birth weight
Below ambient temperature
Poor maternal behaviour
Which three management procedures can be done to reduce piglet mortality at birth?
Dry the piglets
Use heat lamps/heat pads
Ensure adequate colostrum intake
What should be done to treat splayed legs in piglets?
If only the hindlimbs are splayed, the legs can be tied
Which three processing procedures should be carried out in piglets?
Tooth reduction
Tail docking
Iron supplemention
What can be done to reduce the risk of Post Weaning Diarrhoea in piglets?
Creep feeding from 4 days old to mature the gut in anticipation of weaning
In the UK, what is the minimum age at which piglets can be weaned from the sow?
Piglets can only be weaned from the sow at 28 days of age
How should the sow diet be altered post weaning?
When the piglets have been weaned from the sow, reduce the sow feed by half for the first 24 hours. The sow can then be fed ad lib in an attempt to quickly return the sow to a positive energy balance
What kind of diet can be used to reduce the weaning to service interval in sows?
A high stach and high sugar diet (known as flushing) can reduce the weaning to service interval in sows
What is the most common indoor housing system for weaner pigs?
Flat deck housing
What can be done to allow less dominant pigs to access adequate feed?
Leave the lights on during the night to allow less dominant pigs to access food when the more dominant pigs are sleeping
How do you calculate the food conversion ratio (FCR)?
FRC = Feed Intake / Weight Gain
What is the ideal daily live weight gain for a piglet that has been weaned?
500g/day
Which behaviour is indicative of boredom in pigs?
Chewing on the bars or other pigs indicates that pigs are not able to exhibit their natural rooting behaviour
What is the ideal live weight for a pig before being slaughtered?
88kg live weight
How are pigs below 5kg euthanised?
Blunt trauma
How are pigs above 5kg euthanised?
Captive bolt and bleeding out
Shotgun
