Pig Reproductive Diseases Flashcards
When do pigs reach puberty? (females)
5-7 months
85-90kg
When should you aim to serve a gilt?
@ 2nd or 3rd estrus (@ 34 weeks)
-by age, not weight
When should gilts start to get boar contact?
160-170d
What kind of breeders are pigs?
polyestrus
How long is the pig estrus cycle?
20-22 days
What are some signs of estrus?
Edema and hyperemia of vulva Restlessness & variable appetite Mounting / being ridden Grunting Standing near boar Standing heat reflex (will stand solidly if you push on back)
How long does estrus last in pigs?
36-72 hours
When is Fertility in boars?
fertile 7-9 months
What is target wean to service interval? when do you intervene?
5d, intervene @ 7d
How many litters/sow/year is the target?
2.4
What is lactation length? When are pigs weaned?
21-28d
weaned at 28d (4 weeks)
how often are boars put to work?
1 double service / week = capacity
Indoor mating vs. outdoor mating (problems w/ both)
Indoor = could be too dark, and boars may be housed directly opposite sows
Outdoor = worry about weather, (should have somewhere covered), don’t have control (don’t know who has been served properly)
How long does sperm survive? egg?
48 hours = sperm
12 hours = egg
What is the minimum embryo number for pigs?
4
How long is pig gestation?
115 d (3 mos, 3 weeks, 3 days)
What supplies progesterone during pregnancy?
CL supplies until implantation, then embryos supply progesterone (and if t support pregnancy)
What BCS do you want for sows @ service and farrowing?
- 5 @ service
3. 5 @ farrowing
What three vaccinations are important wrt reproductive status?
- Parvovirus (single dose to gilts, 3 weeks pre-service)
- PRRS (single dose to gilts, 2-4 weeks pre-service)
- Swine flu (gilts, 6 and 3 weeks pre-service)
How and when do you diagnose pregnancy? (4)
1) detect returns to estrus (17-24d)
2) B-mode US (25d - term)
3) Doppler US (29-34d - picking up fremitus)
4) Rectal palpation (29d - term)
What is target weaning to service interval?
5-6 days
What is an “empty day”
any day a female isn’t pregnant or lactating
What are some common infertility problems?
1) Regular returns to heat
2) Delayed returns to estrus
3) Emptry sows at PD
4) Failure to farrow
5) Abortions
6) Low # piglets born
7) High # empty days
What could cause regular returns to estrus? (high levels)
Incorrect heat detection Poor sow fitness Poor mating management Poor semen quality Poor AI technique Infectious failure
How can you tell around how many days old an aborted fetus is?
Measuring crown-rump length