Breeding Herd Management

Question 1

Breeding-gestation bard

Answer 1

-quarantine barn or acclimation area
-gilt Development unit
-weaned sow housing
-breeding area (sows and boars)
-implanataion
-gestation area

Question 2

Production groups-cycle 1

Answer 2

Cycle 1

1.Weekly breeding group (target 12)- 115 days gestation
2. Weekly farrowing group (target 10)- 21 lactating days
3. Weekly weaning group (target 10)
4. Some culled, some rebred in cycle 2 (typically 8-9)

Question 3

Production groups- cycle 2

Answer 3

Cycle 2 (take 8-9 from cycle 1, AND 2-3 from replacement Gilts to reach target of 12)
-Go through weekly breeding, farrowing, and weaning groups again

Question 4

Where do you get replacement gilts from?

Answer 4

1. purchased from genetic supplier
   2.Raised on farm

Question 5

Lighting

Answer 5

Affects Breeding because indigenous pigs are seasonal breeders (farrow in spring) AND domestic pigs are stimulated by short photoperiod

**effect is gradual, taking months

Recommended 16 hrs day light in breeding-gestation barns in attempt to prevent seasonal infertility

Question 6

Seasonal fertility/infertility

Answer 6

Sows are most fertile in autumn- winter to farrow during spring and summer

Seasonal infertility peaks in summer breeding season to deter autumn/winter farrowing

Question 7

Barn Temperature

Answer 7

-Effective vs ambient
-optimum: 16-18 degrees
-Need warmer temperature in stalls due to inability to escape adverse air flow and or floor moisture

Question 8

Sow heat stress

Answer 8

Pregnant sows are prone to heat stress
-They only have sweat glands on nose
-issue in regions of prolonged hot summers

**can use drip nozzles and misters if increased airflow to create evaporative cooling

Question 9

Gilt management

Answer 9

Drives success of the breeding herd
-allow for planned culling of sows ~40% annually
-ensure proper number to achieve breeding targets
-ensure proper age structure of breeding herd to optimize herd immunity and disease control

Question 10

Replacement gilts that were raised on farm

Answer 10

-Lower upfront cost
-more labour required to manage genetic and selection program s
-eliminates acclimation problems, lowers external biosecurity risk

Question 11

Replacement gilts from supplier

Answer 11

-pay a premium to the supplier
-Supplier manages genetic and selection programs
-Greater external biosecurity risk

Question 12

Health assurance when buying gilts

Answer 12

Vet to vet interviews
-health status of both farms similar
-vaccines administered prior to dispatch
-how biosecure is source herd?
-What mass medications and vaccines are used in source barn that may mask clinical signs?
-Are incoming animals quarantined when they arrive on the source farm originally?
-How frequent are vet vists?
-How biosecure is the transportation?

Question 13

Quarantine

Answer 13

Isolate gilts in a separate building, a convenient distance from main unit for 30-60 days prior to entry to the breeding barn

Question 14

Acclimation

Answer 14

Controlled exposure to the pathogens present in receipient farm, to develop sufficient immunity without clinical illness

Question 15

Isolation

Answer 15

Can include either quarantine or acclimation

Question 16

Guidelines for first fertile breeding

Answer 16

-Minimum 220-240 days of age
-Second observed estrus on farm
-optimum weight (135kg)

Question 17

Advantage of delayed breeding

Answer 17

-Litter size increases by about 0.5 pigs for each subsequent estrus (E1, E2, E3) but needs to be balanced by additional housing and feed

Question 18

Breeding weaned sows

Answer 18

-Generally housed in stalls after weaning ( for ~5 weeks)
-Estrus checks performed with boars once or twice daily

Question 19

Steps to breeding sows after weaning

Answer 19

-Typically estrus cycle occurs 4-7days after weaning
-confirm receptivity to boar (apply pressure to hind end… they will stay still if ready)
-inseminate or breed naturally once per day until out of standing heat (usually 2-3 matings total)

Question 20

Keys to Breeding timing

Answer 20

Standing estrus- time of receptivity
-vulva reddening and swelling
-vulva mucous discharge
-riding behaviours
-seeking the boar (older, sticky, higher pheromones)

Question 21

Management of boars

Answer 21

-territorial and dominant
-individually housed to prevent fighting
-each boar needs individual attention and training

Question 22

Boar cull rate

Answer 22

50% per year (allows for increased genetics, size, libido)
-not too skinny or too fat

Question 23

AI serviced barns

Answer 23

maintain population of teaser boars for estrus stimulation

Question 24

Naturally serviced barns

Answer 24

Maintain ratio of 1 boar to 20 females

Question 25

Boar housing

Answer 25

-individual housing to prevent fighting
-do not enter pen unless you have an escape route

**by 2029, need individual pens with sufficient space to turn around

Question 26

Semen production

Answer 26

-AI stud or on farm
-regulated by CFIA
-

Question 27

Semen storage

Answer 27

-Fresh
-16-17 degrees storage
-protect from UV light
-usually pooled (collections of multiple boars combined)
**2-3B sperm/dose
-many extenders with shelf life 3-14 days
-transported to farm in syrofoam cooler

Question 28

Semen use in female

Answer 28

2-3B sperm/dose

2-3 doses per female

Question 29

Where to get sexed semen?

Answer 29

Commercially available through 1 supplier

Question 30

Post-breeding management of sows

Answer 30

-Re-grouped into group pens after fertilization (<7d) or implantation (>21d)

-minimal stress during implantation from day 12-21 to minimize early embryonic mortality

Question 31

Pregnancy confirmation

Answer 31

-Estrus check with boars at day 21 and 42

-Pregnancy check day 25-35 depending on equipment

Question 32

Equipment used for pregnancy checks

Answer 32

1. Real time: image of embryonic vesicles
2. Doppler: fetal heart beat or uterine blood flow
3. A-mode: fluid filled organs (uterus; bladder=false positive)

Question 33

Non pregnancy failures

Answer 33

1. Conception failure
2. Pregnancy failure

Question 34

Conception failure

Answer 34

-Return to service at 21 +/-3 day intervals
*regular returns (18-21, 39-45 d)

Question 35

Pregnancy failure

Answer 35

Follows maternal recognition of pregnancy
*12-21 d post breeding

Return to service at irregular intervals (25-39days)

Question 36

Expected farrowing rates

Answer 36

85-90% of sows bred

Question 37

Pregnancy loss in late gestation

Answer 37

-abortion
-pseudopregnancy
-not in pig (NIP)- male did not impregnate
-premature farrowing

Question 38

Gestation length

Answer 38

Normal gestation length of sows and gilts averages 115-116 days from first day of breeding

**Litters less than 112 days would be considered pre-mature and are at risk of high piglet mortality

Question 39

Life cycle of Gilts

Answer 39

1. Gilt development and puberty &vaccines for reproductive diseases
2. Fertile mating; implantation
3. Gestation (115d) &vaccines for piglet diseases
   4.Farrow (P1)
   5.Lactation 21-28d and vaccines for reproductive diseases
4. Weaned
5. Weaned to service interval 5-7d
   8.Rebred

Question 40

Life cycle of Sows (P1+)

Answer 40

1.Rebred
2. Gestation &vaccines for piglets
3.Farrow (P2)
4.Lactation & vaccines for reproduction
5. Weaned
6. Weaned to service interval
7.Rebred
8.Gestation & vaccines for piglets
9. Farrow (P3)

Question 41

Vaccinations during Gilt life cycle

Answer 41

Vaccinate:
1. at end of gilt development/puberty prior to fertile mating
*vaccines against reproductive diseases

2. During gestation (115d) before farrowing
   **these vaccines will be against young pig diseases to pass immunity to piglets
3. At end of lactation/weaning, prior to weaning to service interval and being rebred

Question 42

Vaccinations during Sow life cycle (P1+)

Answer 42

Vaccinate:

1.At end of gestation, prior to farrowing any litters
**vaccines for young pig diseases

2. At end of lactation/weaning prior to weaning to service interval/rebreeding
   **vaccine for reproductive diseases