Pigs Flashcards
Natural farrowing
Solitary return to group in 10 days
Natural social structure
Mother &a offspring (2-6 adult) Solitary male Large range Seasonal Litter 6ish up to 10
Number of sow services
2/3 in one heat cycle
When do piglet mutulations occur
Weaning
Allowed mutilations
Castration
Tooth clipping
Tail docking
Marking (eg ear notching, tattooing, tagging, micro chip
Tail docking
Half removed First days of life Prevent later tail biting Banned routine practice Ask vet permission
Castration
Testis surgically removed Rare Immunocastration possible Not always w/ anaesthetic, analgesia most EU req it now though
IDing
Alternatives to ear notching available
Teeth clipping/grinding
Reduce sharpness
Soon after birth
Prevent udder damage and littermate injury
Effects of mutulations
Pain
Infection risk
Natural weaning age
17wk
Industry weaning age
4wk
Why do some wean earlier
More litters from the sow per year
Post weaning problems
Growth
Behavioural vices
Gut disorders
Thermal problems
Problems of social mixing
Aggression causes stress - may be a genetic side to aggression post mixing.
Welfare, growth and disease risk impeded
Ideal housing conditions
Enrichment ( straw best )
Straw to lie on ( slatted floor often used as lower costs)
Stocking density conditions
Min of move around lie down feed drink
Ideal to display +ve behaviour eg play and avoid aggression
How is feeder/drinker design important
Can cause aggression
Partially socially facilitated and distinct patterns
Number of spaces important
Ready water access
Why is stockman ship important
Poor is Associated with reduced growth rate stress levels low fertility
Two journey types
No rests unless mandatory
Short : less than 8 hrs
Long : up to 24 he then need at least 24 he rest in certified control post. Only higher standard vehicles
Transport welfar issues
Stocking density Mixing Driving Journey time Temp Humidity Water supply
Slaughter issues
Handling
Lair age conditions
Goading instruments
Types of pregnancy housing
Group housing Outdoors Sow stalls (banned)
Sign of bad welfare
Stereotypic behaviour
Types of group housing
Large dynamic group
Small stable group
How are pregnant does fed different
Feed restricted so often hungry
Important how & when they access their food
Competition should be avoided
Key health problems in pregnancy
Lameness
Uterine/ udder infections
First service ages
6-7 month
Av litter no
12
10 reared
Av farrowing duration
4-6 hr
How is pigging diff to lambing/calving
Don’t get up vocalise lick
+ve farrowing crate
Control movement Targeted heating possible Hygiene facilitated Human intervention facilitated Don't squash piglets as easy
-ve farrowing crate
Impair sow welfare
Stereotypic behaviour
Shoulder sores
Savaging
Main piglet risks
Chilling Starvation Crushing Savaging Disease
Problems of high litter no
Tear competition
More stillborn
More neonatal mortality
Low av birth weight
