Pig pregnancy

Question 1

What methods can be used to detect pregnancy in pigs? (5)

Answer 1

• ultrasound
• boar
• proesterone assay
• estrogen sulfate
• failure to return to heat (nut reliable method)

Question 2

What is the most common method of pregnancy testing in pigs?

Answer 2

ultrasound

Question 3

When can an ultrasound be used to detect pregnancy?

Answer 3

23-35 days post breeding

Question 4

when can a progesterone assay be done?

Answer 4

17-20days post breeding

Question 5

When can an estrogen sulfate test be done?

Answer 5

25-29 days post breeding

Question 6

How long is pig gestation?

Answer 6

114days (3m 3w 3d)

Question 7

What type of placentation do pigs have?

Answer 7

diffuse placentation

Question 8

in pigs, what is the main source of progesterone?

Answer 8

the corpus luteum

Question 9

When does abdominal and mammary development begin?

Answer 9

2.5 months of digestion

Question 10

what can be done in the first 1-2 months of gestation to increase litter size?

Answer 10

decreasing stress

Question 11

how many times do pigs farrow per year?

Answer 11

2+

Question 12

What is the average amount of piglets sows have every year

Answer 12

32 piggletts per year

Question 13

What is the average litter size?

Answer 13

8-14 (average 11)

Question 14

What is the average weight of piglets at birth?

Answer 14

1.0-1.5kg / pigglett

Question 15

When is the time of greatest mortality in pigs?

Answer 15

• the pre-weaning phase
• from farrowing to weaning

Question 16

which pigs will have smaller litters

Answer 16

older sows and gilts

Question 17

What are the signs of impending parturition (stage 1)?

Answer 17

24h-> sow will lie down and rise

12h-> increased frequency of peeing and pooing

6h-> respiratory rate peaks

3-4h-> restless, may nest and nap

Question 18

Describe stage 2 of pig pregnancy

Answer 18

• lasts 1-5 hours
• Sows will usually remain in lateral, mild abdominal contractions, pass a small amount of fluid, and wiggle her tail
• time between piglets is 1min-4hours (usually under 15 min)

Question 19

Describe stage 3 of pregnancy

Answer 19

• expelling the placenta
• Usually expelled 21min-12.5 hours later
• placenta may be expelled between piglets

Question 20

Describe oxytocin in pig partruition

Answer 20

• Naturally, oxytocin builds up in the sow just before partruition
• can be administered to help with difficult pregnancies (be very careful with dose) (will bring the piglet from the uterine horn to the cervix)

Question 21

what are the signs of dystocia

Answer 21

• prolonged gestation
• prolonged parturition (>4h)
• long interval between piglets
• anorexia and lethargy
• abnormal vulvar discharge (blood-tinged, foul-smelling, discoloured)
• Meconium without abdominal straining
• abdominal straining but no passage of piglet

Question 22

how many sows will show signs of dystocia?

Answer 22

less than 1%

Question 23

what are the causes of dystocia?

Answer 23

• Fetal causes (oversized, malpresentation)
• Maternal causes (uterine inertia, uterine deviation, uterus pulled ventral)
• Obstructed birth canal (constipation, distended bladder, hymen remenant, swelling of soft tissue)

Question 24

pig TPR

Answer 24

T: 36.8-39 (98-102)
P: 200-250BPM
R: 50-60 RPM