Pigs Flashcards
What age is puberty in the sow?
5 months (150-180 days at 90-100kg)
How long is the sow oestrus cycle?
21 days
How long does oestrus last?
60 hours
Average how many per litter born alive?
12
What % loss from ovulation to birth?
50%
How long is gestation?
116 days
What season are sows fertile in the wild?
Late Autumn
What % of UK sows are outdoors?
40%
How long is lactation in the wild?
8 weeks +
How long is lactation commercially?
3-5 weeks
How long is the weaning to service interval?
5.5 days
How fast is cessation of lactation after weaning?
Rapid
How long after weaning is oestrus?
4-5 days
What is lifespan of a sow?
12 years
How many litters can a sow have?
20+
What is commercial lifespan of a sow?
4-5 years
How many litters can a commercial sow have?
8
Which parities are most productive?
3,4,5
Ideally what age should you breed a sow from?
7 months (220-240 days at 130-140kg)
What BCS should sows be at breeding?
3, with 20-24mm back fat
How many oestrus cycles should sow have had at breeding?
3 or 4
How does early puberty affect productive life?
Longer
What is annual replacement rate?
45%
What is parity replacement rate?
20%
How many served females should be a gilt?
2 out of every 10
What is “second litter drop syndrome”?
Perform worse second litter
What are the “non-productive days”?
Weaning to conception
What are “empty days”?
Farrowing to conception
What is the minimum number of empty days?
32
What is “litter scatter”?
% of litters of 8 or fewer
Where does fertilisation occur?
Fallopian tubes
Why do older sows get uneven piglets?
Uneven lactation due to gland damage
What are two other problems in older sows?
Greater embryonic losses and higher pre-weaning mortality
After how long is it considered irregular/late return?
After 21 days
What two things can cause irregular/late return?
Loss of pregnancy/failure to observe heat
What are two advantages of batch farrowing?
Increases cohort size and improves pig flow
What are two disadvantages of batch farrowing?
Needs AI and reduced herd size
What length batch is ideal?
3 - farrowing, weaning, serving
What age is puberty in the boar?
8 months
What age is fertility developed by in the boar?
10-12 months
What pheremone does boar produce?
5-alpha androsterone
How much semen do boars produce?
250ml
What is boar:sow ratio if natural service indoors?
1:20
What is boar:sow ratio if outdoors?
1:15
What is Altrenogest?
Synthetic progesterone
How many days do you treat with Altrenogest for?
18 days
How long is oestrus after ALtrenogest treatment?
5-7 days
Where is ejaculation in the sow?
Uterine due to cervical lock
How does earlier on heat affect heat length?
Heat lasts longer
How many ova are there at ovulation?
15-20+
How long are the ova viable for?
8-10 hours
How many hours before the end of standing oestrus is ovulation?
12 hours (2/3 through)
How long until capacitation in sperm?
6 hours
How long do sperm survive?
48 hours
How long before ovulation should mating be?
8-10 hours
How often should you serve during standing oestrus?
Every 24 hours during standing oestrus for 2-3 days
When should you serve a late oestrus sow?
As soon as possible
When is it crucial there is no mixing or stresses?
14-24 days
How long is it best not to mix for?
30 days
How long until implantation in the sow?
14-21 days
What is frozen semen survival rate like?
Very low
From what day can you ultrasound?
28 days
What do you use amplitude ultrasound to look at?
Uterine arteries
