Selection Flashcards
One of the most important aspects in starting a pig farm
Selection
Elaborate the recommendations in selecting breeding animal
*Strain/breed that is most common in the community
*Start with crossbreeds or upgraded animals
*Consider the market outlet and consumers preference before starting pig prod business.
Elaborate the general recommendation in selecting pigs for breeding
Select pigs based on reliable production record
Start selecting or evaluating potential breeding animals when these are 2-3 months old and for the final selection 5 to 6 months old
When are we going to start selecting or evaluating potential breeding animals
2 to 3 months old
The final selection should be done when the animals are
5 to 6 months old
What are the bases of selection
*Physical selection such as strong legs, long body good body confirmation and etc
*Performance such as mothering ability average daily gain back fat thickness and etc
In selecting boars, boars should
Boars should contribute half of the genetic makeup of the whole herd
This is the removal of undesirable individuals in terms of economically important traits and overall performance
Culling
Boars should be selected based on economically important traits, what traits are these?
Average daily gain
back fat thickness
feed conversion ratio
What are the pointers in selecting breeding boars
Physical basis and performance basis
What are the physical basis in selecting boars
*Masculine with well developed testicles of about the same size
*Possess a strong constitution and high libido but controlled temperament
*Strong pasterns especially in hind legs, strong back , long body. It influences the ability of a board to mount and are also heritable
*No physical and hereditary defects like hernias, undescended testes, blind or inverted tips
Elaborate the performance basis in selecting boars
*Good muscle development like ham, loin , and shoulder. avoid those with excessive back fat, back fat thickness should not exceed 2 cm in 90 kg live weight.
*Average daily gain should not less than 800 g and a feed conversion efficiency of not more than 2.5
*Boars should be at least 90 kg and not more than 160 days old during selection
It represents the other half of the genetic makeup of the herd, hence they should be carefully selected.
Gilts
What are the pointers in selecting guilds for breeding/ selecting replacement gilts
*Good temperament and smooth in general appearance
*At least six pairs of prominent well space teats
*Long body
*Strong legs and pasterns
*Has a strong straight or slightly arched but not too broad back
*Has back fat of about 2 cm at 90 kg
What are the unproductive and undesirable traits of a boar that should be removed from the herd
*Have difficulty in mounting for no apparenti reason
*Boars with poor semen quality
*Highly temperamental vicious and difficult to handle
*Bores that can no longer breed or produce viable semen
*Boars that found positive of infectious diseases such as brucellosis leptospirosis and pseudorabies
*Boars that has unsound characteristics like hernia blind or inverted teats that could be passed on their offspring
What are the unproductive and undesirable traits of a gilts that should be removed from the herd
Gilts that do not settle after two repeated matings to a proven sire
Gilts that do not come into heat after 10 months of age
What are the unproductive and undesirable traits of a sows that should be removed from the herd
*Poor performance in terms of letter size for two consecutive farrowings
*Have not been bred 30 days after winning their litter
*Poor maternal instinct and mothering ability
*Fail to wean at least eight healthy pigs
*Found positive of infectious diseases such as brucellosis leptospirosis and pseudorabies
*Has and sound characteristics like hernia blind or inverted teats that could be passed on their offspring
