Pigs

Question 1

Natural farrowing

Answer 1

Solitary return to group in 10 days

Question 2

Natural social structure

Answer 2

Mother &a offspring (2-6 adult)
Solitary male
Large range
Seasonal
Litter 6ish up to 10

Question 3

Number of sow services

Answer 3

2/3 in one heat cycle

Question 4

When do piglet mutulations occur

Answer 4

Weaning

Question 5

Allowed mutilations

Answer 5

Castration
Tooth clipping
Tail docking
Marking (eg ear notching, tattooing, tagging, micro chip

Question 6

Tail docking

Answer 6

Half removed 
First days of life
Prevent later tail biting
Banned routine practice
Ask vet permission

Question 7

Castration

Answer 7

Testis surgically removed
Rare
Immunocastration 
possible
Not always w/ anaesthetic, analgesia
most EU req it now though

Question 8

IDing

Answer 8

Alternatives to ear notching available

Question 9

Teeth clipping/grinding

Answer 9

Reduce sharpness
Soon after birth
Prevent udder damage and littermate injury

Question 10

Effects of mutulations

Answer 10

Pain

Infection risk

Question 11

Natural weaning age

Answer 11

17wk

Question 12

Industry weaning age

Answer 12

4wk

Question 13

Why do some wean earlier

Answer 13

More litters from the sow per year

Question 14

Post weaning problems

Answer 14

Growth
Behavioural vices
Gut disorders
Thermal problems

Question 15

Problems of social mixing

Answer 15

Aggression causes stress - may be a genetic side to aggression post mixing.
Welfare, growth and disease risk impeded

Question 16

Ideal housing conditions

Answer 16

Enrichment ( straw best )

Straw to lie on ( slatted floor often used as lower costs)

Question 17

Stocking density conditions

Answer 17

Min of move around lie down feed drink

Ideal to display +ve behaviour eg play and avoid aggression

Question 18

How is feeder/drinker design important

Answer 18

Can cause aggression
Partially socially facilitated and distinct patterns
Number of spaces important
Ready water access

Question 19

Why is stockman ship important

Answer 19

Poor is Associated with reduced growth rate stress levels low fertility

Question 20

Two journey types

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Transport welfar issues

Answer 21

Stocking density
Mixing
Driving
Journey time
Temp 
Humidity
Water supply

Question 22

Slaughter issues

Answer 22

Handling
Lair age conditions
Goading instruments

Question 23

Types of pregnancy housing

Answer 23

Group housing
Outdoors
Sow stalls (banned)

Question 24

Sign of bad welfare

Answer 24

Stereotypic behaviour

Question 25

Types of group housing

Answer 25

Large dynamic group

Small stable group

Question 26

How are pregnant does fed different

Answer 26

Feed restricted so often hungry
Important how & when they access their food
Competition should be avoided

Question 27

Key health problems in pregnancy

Answer 27

Lameness

Uterine/ udder infections

Question 28

First service ages

Answer 28

6-7 month

Question 29

Av litter no

Answer 29

12

10 reared

Question 30

Av farrowing duration

Answer 30

4-6 hr

Question 31

How is pigging diff to lambing/calving

Answer 31

Don’t get up vocalise lick

Question 32

+ve farrowing crate

Answer 32

Control movement
Targeted heating possible
Hygiene facilitated
Human intervention facilitated
Don't squash piglets as easy

Question 33

-ve farrowing crate

Answer 33

Impair sow welfare
Stereotypic behaviour
Shoulder sores
Savaging

Question 34

Main piglet risks

Answer 34

Chilling
Starvation
Crushing
Savaging
Disease

Question 35

Problems of high litter no

Answer 35

Tear competition
More stillborn
More neonatal mortality
Low av birth weight