Pig Husbandry (P 1-4) Flashcards
this is the world’s most consumed meat from terrestrial animals
pork
in 2018-2019, half the world’s population of pigs died from this disease
African Swine Fever
40% of the UK breeding herd for pork is managed under this type of production which is unusual/rare globally in commercial production
outdoor
farm size for pigs is characterised by this number
number of breeding females
a porker is approximately this many kg dead weight
30-54 kg
a baconer is approximately this many kg dead weight
65-80 kg
the oestrus cycle in pigs is this many days
21 days
oestrus commonly lasts this long in pigs
60 hours (2.5 days)
ovulation occurs on the second day of oestrus n pigs and this many eggs can be produced each cycle
12-24 eggs each cycle
gestation in pigs is approximately this long
115-117 days (3 months, 3 weeks, & 3 days)
sows will typically have this many litters per year
2.4
detecting first oestrus in gilts is between these days
160-210 days
young boars that are adequate in size and have strong legs can be used for natural service starting at this age
7-8 months
at what day of gestation is pregnancy testing done in pigs
day 30
most pig units service the sows naturally or with AI?
AI
typical commercial sows give birth to this many live-born piglets per litter
12-14
piglets weigh approximately this much at birth
1-1.5 kg
typical live-born piglet mortality ranges from this percent per litter
10-12%
piglets are weaned at approximately this age
4 weeks
piglets should weigh this much at 4 weeks/weaning age
7-8 kg
this is the legal minimum weaning age in the UK and EU for piglets
28 days
although under the legal minimum, piglets can be weaned at this age if the health of the sow or litter are in doubt
21 days
organic systems require piglets to be weaned at this age
6-8 weeks
with average genetics, pigs can reach a maximum growth rate of this many grams per day at 78 kg body weight
970 g / day
most pigs are sent for slaughter at ‘bacon weight’ of this many kg
100-110 kg
farms marketing pigs through Farm Assurance Schemes are required to have a farm health plan receive a veterinary visit this often
every quarter (4 times per year)
name the 5 freedoms developed by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council
- freedom from hunger and thirst
- from discomfort
- from pain, injury or disease
- to express normal behaviour
- from fear and distress
these are single-housing close confinement systems that only allow the pregnant sows to stand up and lie down. they cannot turn around
gestation stalls
what is the argument for using gestation stalls
prevent aggression between sows when mixed after weaning
what is the argument for using farrowing crates
reduce risk of piglets being crushed by sow
the key to successful gestational housing and husbandry is to reduce this
stress
name 3 sow welfare issues associated with farrowing crates
- physical restriction
- behavioural restriction via restraint
- behavioural restriction via inadequate nest-building substrate
name 3 piglet welfare issues associated with farrowing crates
- increased risk of stillbirth
- increased risk of mis-mothering
- lack of enrichment opportunities
farrowing can take between this many hours
2-24 hours
there should not be a delay longer than this between piglets during farrowing
20 minutes
each let-down bout of milk/colostrum from the sow lasts about this long
20-30 seconds
after farrowing, let-downs of colostrum occur approximately this often
every 20 minutes
colostrum is available in a sow for approximately this long postpartum before it turns to milk
24-30 hours
‘gut closure’ occurs after this long in piglets and their gut will no longer be able to absorb Ig from colostrum
48 hours
this is the limiting factor in colostrum and milk production
the sow
this complex syndrome can develop in sows who are over-fed prior to farrowing and can be seen in the sows shortly after farrowing
MMA (mastitis, metritis, agalactia)
what should be done with/for pathologically growth retarded piglets
humane euthanasia
clipping or grinding of these is performed to prevent piglets damaging each other and the sow when scrambling to get access to the udder
teeth
clipping or docking of these helps control the occurrence of tail-biting often performed latterly in the grower-finisher stages of production
tails
the sow should come back into oestrus approximately this long after weaning
5-7 days
this can be described as the application of measures designed to prevent the introduction of new infectious agents into livestock units and to prevent or control the spread of those diseases within the unit
biosecurity
this allows incoming pigs to be kept in isolation from the main herd while any diseases they may be carrying or incubating can be detected
quarantine
quarantine of new pigs should ideally be this long, but this is considered the minimum for commercial farms
6-8 weeks; 4 weeks
this represents one of the biggest risks to the biosecurity of a pig unit and must be well designed with strict disease control policies - must be on the perimeter-4
loading bay
