Pigs

Question 1

What age is puberty in the sow?

Answer 1

5 months (150-180 days at 90-100kg)

Question 2

How long is the sow oestrus cycle?

Answer 2

21 days

Question 3

How long does oestrus last?

Answer 3

60 hours

Question 4

Average how many per litter born alive?

Answer 4

12

Question 5

What % loss from ovulation to birth?

Answer 5

50%

Question 6

How long is gestation?

Answer 6

116 days

Question 7

What season are sows fertile in the wild?

Answer 7

Late Autumn

Question 8

What % of UK sows are outdoors?

Answer 8

40%

Question 9

How long is lactation in the wild?

Answer 9

8 weeks +

Question 10

How long is lactation commercially?

Answer 10

3-5 weeks

Question 11

How long is the weaning to service interval?

Answer 11

5.5 days

Question 12

How fast is cessation of lactation after weaning?

Answer 12

Rapid

Question 13

How long after weaning is oestrus?

Answer 13

4-5 days

Question 14

What is lifespan of a sow?

Answer 14

12 years

Question 15

How many litters can a sow have?

Answer 15

20+

Question 16

What is commercial lifespan of a sow?

Answer 16

4-5 years

Question 17

How many litters can a commercial sow have?

Answer 17

8

Question 18

Which parities are most productive?

Answer 18

3,4,5

Question 19

Ideally what age should you breed a sow from?

Answer 19

7 months (220-240 days at 130-140kg)

Question 20

What BCS should sows be at breeding?

Answer 20

3, with 20-24mm back fat

Question 21

How many oestrus cycles should sow have had at breeding?

Answer 21

3 or 4

Question 22

How does early puberty affect productive life?

Answer 22

Longer

Question 23

What is annual replacement rate?

Answer 23

45%

Question 24

What is parity replacement rate?

Answer 24

20%

Question 25

How many served females should be a gilt?

Answer 25

2 out of every 10

Question 26

What is "second litter drop syndrome"?

Answer 26

Perform worse second litter

Question 27

What are the "non-productive days"?

Answer 27

Weaning to conception

Question 28

What are "empty days"?

Answer 28

Farrowing to conception

Question 29

What is the minimum number of empty days?

Answer 29

32

Question 30

What is "litter scatter"?

Answer 30

% of litters of 8 or fewer

Question 31

Where does fertilisation occur?

Answer 31

Fallopian tubes

Question 32

Why do older sows get uneven piglets?

Answer 32

Uneven lactation due to gland damage

Question 33

What are two other problems in older sows?

Answer 33

Greater embryonic losses and higher pre-weaning mortality

Question 34

After how long is it considered irregular/late return?

Answer 34

After 21 days

Question 35

What two things can cause irregular/late return?

Answer 35

Loss of pregnancy/failure to observe heat

Question 36

What are two advantages of batch farrowing?

Answer 36

Increases cohort size and improves pig flow

Question 37

What are two disadvantages of batch farrowing?

Answer 37

Needs AI and reduced herd size

Question 38

What length batch is ideal?

Answer 38

3 - farrowing, weaning, serving

Question 39

What age is puberty in the boar?

Answer 39

8 months

Question 40

What age is fertility developed by in the boar?

Answer 40

10-12 months

Question 41

What pheremone does boar produce?

Answer 41

5-alpha androsterone

Question 42

How much semen do boars produce?

Answer 42

250ml

Question 43

What is boar:sow ratio if natural service indoors?

Answer 43

1:20

Question 44

What is boar:sow ratio if outdoors?

Answer 44

1:15

Question 45

What is Altrenogest?

Answer 45

Synthetic progesterone

Question 46

How many days do you treat with Altrenogest for?

Answer 46

18 days

Question 47

How long is oestrus after ALtrenogest treatment?

Answer 47

5-7 days

Question 48

Where is ejaculation in the sow?

Answer 48

Uterine due to cervical lock

Question 49

How does earlier on heat affect heat length?

Answer 49

Heat lasts longer

Question 50

How many ova are there at ovulation?

Answer 50

15-20+

Question 51

How long are the ova viable for?

Answer 51

8-10 hours

Question 52

How many hours before the end of standing oestrus is ovulation?

Answer 52

12 hours (2/3 through)

Question 53

How long until capacitation in sperm?

Answer 53

6 hours

Question 54

How long do sperm survive?

Answer 54

48 hours

Question 55

How long before ovulation should mating be?

Answer 55

8-10 hours

Question 56

How often should you serve during standing oestrus?

Answer 56

Every 24 hours during standing oestrus for 2-3 days

Question 57

When should you serve a late oestrus sow?

Answer 57

As soon as possible

Question 58

When is it crucial there is no mixing or stresses?

Answer 58

14-24 days

Question 59

How long is it best not to mix for?

Answer 59

30 days

Question 60

How long until implantation in the sow?

Answer 60

14-21 days

Question 61

What is frozen semen survival rate like?

Answer 61

Very low

Question 62

From what day can you ultrasound?

Answer 62

28 days

Question 63

What do you use amplitude ultrasound to look at?

Answer 63

Uterine arteries