Lecture 8- Judging Breeding Gilts Flashcards
What are the goals of
the breeding gilt?
Wean pigs
What is she expected to bring to
the operation?
Long lasting productive life span
How does a commercial hog farmer
make his/her living?
Sell pigs
What to we need pigs to be,,,
-Built to last
-Longevity
-Correct and appropriate build
What traits are similarly selected for?
-Soundness
-Genuine power, good body shape
-Appropriate build
In breading animals what’s out no1 priority:
Breeding Animals: Function is no1 priority
(muscle takes back seat)
Functionality def:
“Designed to have a practical use”
What traits are crucial to be labelled
functional?
- Structural correctness
- Soft, maternal body type
- Sound reproductive traits
What is functional vs practical?
- Use functional in females
- Use practical in males
What’s the number 1 priority in breeding hogs?
Same evaluation method as market hogs
When evaluating structure of swine where do we look first?
ALWAYS START AT THE GROUND
Ground up approach, systematic approach
* Toes
* Pastern
* Shoulder/blade
* Hock
* Hip
* Spine
Body condition score of Guilt when entering sow herd
Guilt BC 4 when entering sow herd, lactational pull on sow is massive (lactation draws resources out of reserved and can put them in bad condition)
They then swing 3.5-2 in between the rest
What are the reasons sows are
culled besides structure?
-Old age
-Bad mom
-Reproductive failure (NO1 reason) They reproductively fail due to poor body condition
what’s key for body type?
- Fleshing ability is key
- Correlated to reproductive success
- Soft bodied, maternally focused gilts are
likely to cycle back sooner out of the crate - MUST MAINTAIN PRODUCTIVITY
What underlines are important in swine?
- Number of teats
- Must be at least 6
- Free of pins, blunt or inverted teats
- Evenly spaced
“Prominent, refined, evenly spaced teats”
