Pig Reproduction Flashcards
What type of breeding is practiced widely in swine?
Cross breeding
Using breeds or lines to take maximum advantage of their genetic type is know as what?
Breed complementation
The tendency for cross-bred progeny to perform differently than the average of their parents is known as what?
Heterosis or Hybrid vigor
What are 2 aspects of structural soundness to be considered when selecting replacements?
- General structural soundness
- Signs of: injuries, hoof cracks, sole bruises, foot rot
What are 4 problems that can be seen with the external genitalia of pigs?
- Infantilism
- Dorsally tipped vulva
- Male pseudohermaphroditism
- Mammary gland abnormalities
A pig with a small reproductive tract has what condition?
Infantilism
Pigs with a dorsally tipped vulva may have difficulty with what?
Mating
Male pseudohermaphroditism can lead to what type of vulva?
“Fishhook” or “sky-tipped” vulva
How many piglets do we want a sow to have?
10
What are 4 problems that can be seen with the internal genitalia in pigs?
- Hydrosalpinx or pyosalpinx
- Segmental aplasia
- Blind or missing cervix
- Oviductal adhesions
Hydrosalpinx or pyosalpinx can lead to what?
Obstruction of oviducts
What can segmental aplasia lead to?
Complete or partial infertility
How many functional teats should ideally be on each side of the sow?
What is the minimum total number of functional teats a sow should have?
- 6 on each side
- At least 10 functional teats
How many teats should be cranial to the umbilicus on each side?
3
How do the sows uterine horns appear?
Long and tortuous
What is the average age a pig goes into puberty?
5-8 months
What is the average weight at which a pig goes into puberty?
200-250 lbs
What breed of pig can reach puberty as early as 67 days?
Meishan
What breed of pig can reach puberty at 173 days of age?
Landrace
Which reach puberty earlier, purebreds or crossbreds?
Crossbred
Which breed is the latest to reach puberty?
When do they usually reach it?
- Duroc
- 224 days
What are 4 goals to managing a gilt pool?
- Keep large enough gilt pool to meet weekly breeding targets
- Daily boar exposure will stimulate puberty
- Gilt in heat: use sterile boar 1st heat then fertile boar 2nd heat
- Aim for large litter size and good nursing ability in gilts
What are 3 possible factors for hastening the onset of puberty?
- Movement/mixing of females
- Length of day (long)
- Boar effect
What are 2 factors that can delay the onset of puberty?
- Confinement housing
- Season