Lecture 8: Swine Production Medicine Flashcards
What is the most widely eaten meat in the world
Pork
What are some useful by products of swine production
- Suede
- Gelatin
- Biological- insulin, epi, heparin, progesterone, oxytocin, melatonin
- Xenotransplantation
What are the 5 different swine production operations
- Farrow to finish
- Farrow to wean
- Farrow to feeder
- Feeder to finish
- Nursery
What is the farrow to finish swine production
Raise pigs from birth to slaughter (270-285lbs)
What is the farrow to wean swine production
Piglets sold immediately after weaning (3 weeks, 12-14lbs)
What is the farrow to feeder swine production
Piglets born, raised, weaned and fed until feeder weight then sold to finisher operations
What is the feeder to finish swine production
Feeder pigs fed to slaughter weight, sold to processors
What are pigs fed to achieve slaughter weight
Corn and soybean meal for 4 months
What is the nursery swine production
Weaned pigs raised until 40lbs, sold to finishing operations
Which operation requires the most labor and feed costs
Farrow to finish
What are the 3 common housing options for swine
- Pastured swine
- Hoop barns
- Confinement systems
What pig breed is known for being a “lawn mower” and does well on pasture diet
Kunekune
Hoop barns are generally used for what type of swine production operations
Feeder to finishing
Which swine housing system is best as biosecurity practices
Confinement systems- temperature control, airflow, and waste management
What is the most costly swine housing option
Confinement system
What is all-in, all-out and what is the purpose
Common practice in swine herds
All-in: pigs grouped by age and brought into unit together
All-out: pigs in that group move to next stage together
Allows facility to be emptied and disinfected all at once—>great biosecurity measure
What is evaluated in breeding stock
- Rate of gain
- Conformation- dystocia risk
- # of teats
What is the gestation length in pigs
3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days
How many liters to pigs have/year
2
How many piglets to a litter
11+
When are gilts bred
29 weeks old (7 months)
When are sows bred after last farrowing
1 week post weaning
When are pigs moved into farrowing unit
1 week before farrowing
How long is lactation period for swine
3 weeks
When are piglets weaned
3 weeks
What are some welfare debates regarding farrowing crates
- Limits expression of normal behavior
- Pressure sores
- Arthritis
- Lack of rubber padding
Why do we have farrowing crates if controversial
Protect piglets from being squished by their mom
What is CA-proposition 12
Can’t use gestation crates if you want to sell pork to California
- no closures that inhibit: lying down, standing up, limb extension, and turning around
- can only put pig in farrowing crate 5 days before due date
24 square feet per pig
Piglets require environment up to __degrees F
90-95 degrees F
Neonate deaths occur in the first __ days of life, usually from ___
4 days from crushing
What takes place in weaning of piglet
- Occurs at 3-4 weeks old
- Introduce solid pelleted feed (creep feed)
- Introduce portable spigot or nipple watered
- Nursery groups
When group do post weaning pigs go into
Nursery
What happens during nursery period
- Transition from creep feed/milk to grain based diet
- Commingle 2-3 liters
At what stage in pigs life are they are highest risk of infectious disease
Nursery, most stressful
What is the goal weight to be attained in nursery
40-60lbs so they can go to feeder operation
Why are piglets in the nursery so susceptible to disease
- Stress from weaning
- Decreasing Ig’s from colostrum
- Commingling of groups
- Dietary changes
What is the goal weight during feeder/finisher
280lbs
At what age is goal weight in pigs achieved at feeder/finisher
6 months
Keys to profit
- Maintain biosecurity
- Management (breeding, nutrition, crushing/injuries)
- Low cost feed
- High market prices
