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Y4 FA - Pigs > Service management and the dry sow > Flashcards

Service management and the dry sow Flashcards

1
Q

What are the major issues of infertility on pig farms?

A
  • The majority of problems are managemental
  • Difficult to accept on farm, hence it ‘must be infectious’
  • Beware the search for a causative ‘bug’ – this will often prove fruitless, or create confusion…
  • We must understand the basic principles, analyse the problem, and reach conclusions based on the evidence
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2
Q

How long is the reproductive cycle of pigs?

A

21 days
normal = 19-23

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3
Q

Where is semen deposited in the reproductive tract?

A

Cervix

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4
Q

What are the functions of a pigs reproductive anatomy and physiology?

A
  • Prepare and deliver an egg ready for fertilisation
  • Allow optimum conditions for fertilisation to occur
  • Allow and control development and growth of the piglets
  • Protect the piglets
  • Deliver the piglets to the outside world
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5
Q

If one ovary is working how are piglets distributes in the uterus?

A

Even if only one ovary is working, embryos will be distributed through both uterine horns by myometrial contractions

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6
Q

Describe the physiology of weaning

A
  1. No sucking stimulus
  2. Pituitary isn’t stimulated – no prolactin secretion
  3. Positive feedback on gonadotropins
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7
Q

Describe the interactions of the sow which can influence her throughout reproduction

A
  • Humans: decrease stress (cortisol)
  • Boar: pheromone stimulus - heat
  • Hygiene/security: infections getting into the cervix
  • Social: hierarchy, bullying
  • Housing, Feed, Temp (eat less when too hot)
  • Light
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8
Q

Describe appropriate light levels for pigs

A
  • 30 lux is the legal minimum.
  • 200 lux is a good stimulus. Also need a dark period
  • Pigs don’t have red receptor cones so orange lighting is not a good stimulus.
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9
Q

Which features of a sows housing and environment need to be considered on farm

A
  • Wean-Service Interval vs pregnancy
  • Types/space
  • Temperature/ventilation – keeping them cool is harder
  • Water/feed
  • Bedding/hygiene
  • Social groups/run outs
  • Nutrition - BCS
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10
Q

Describe BC scoring pigs

A

1 = emaciated, backbone very prominent
2 = thin, backbone prominent
3 = ideal condition during lactation and weaning, backbone just palpable
4 = slightly overweight, cannot find the backbone
5 = body rotund, over fat

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11
Q

Describe how the feed intake of pigs changes throughout her reproductive cycle

A
  • Very big drop in feed intake between weaning and service , can impact ovulation
  • Feed intake plateaus following service until later in pregnancy - affects implantation and sows body condition
  • Feed intake begins to increase towards the end of pregnancy -> directly impacts piglets birth weights
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12
Q

What are the uses of boars?

A

Production of sperm
Stimulus for sow

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13
Q

Describe the main features of a boars reproductive anatomy

A

Spiral penis
Accessory glands – produce a large amount of fluid

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14
Q

Is sperm fresh or frozen in the pig industry?

A

All sperm is fresh

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15
Q

Describe the importance of timing service

A

Timing – make sure she is in standing heat
- Ovulation takes place 2/3 into her standing heat - ideal time to serve is just before she ovulates
- Hard to know how long she will be in oestrus
- Late standing heat indicates poorer fertility
- Sperm has a short lifespan so may need to be served twice

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16
Q

How long after the start of true heat will a sow ovulate?

A

38-42 hours

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17
Q

Describe boar stimulation to females and how this is replicated during AI procedures

A

Remember that you have to make her believe that she is being mated by a boar and give her the same amount of stimulation in 5 minutes as he would give her in 30 minutes…
1. Teat Stimulation - Rub along mammary glands (boar nosing)
2. Back & Shoulder Pressure - Pretend you weigh 250kg (boar mounting)
3. Side & Flank Pressure - Either you or using a raddle (boar leg position)
4. Groin Manipulation - Pull into her groin/crus towards the ovaries (boar nosing)
5. Vulval Stimulation - Apply pressure to vulval lips (boar nosing & service)
6. Catheter Manipulation - Gentle movement (boar service)
7. Vocalisation - Talk to her (boar vocalisation)
8. Boar pheromones

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18
Q

How are myometrial contractions involved in service?

A
  • Moves the semen from the cervix to the oviduct
  • Will only happen if they sow is stimulated
  • Be aware that gilts will take longer and will need more stimulation
19
Q

Describe how semen for AI is stored

A

Semen delivery/storage – fresh – kept at 17 degrees at all time
Needs to be turned twice a day, do not shake!

20
Q

List the signs of heat shown by sows in oestrus

A
  • Vulva: reddening, swelling, mucous
  • Vocalisation
  • Interest in boar
  • Flank nosing
  • Smelling of boar
  • Standing next to boar
  • Standing to back pressure
  • Allowing sows or boar to mount
21
Q

What are the 3 fates of semen post insemination?

A

2/3 = phagocytosis
1/3 = reflux
Very small % = reach oviduct

22
Q

Compare regular vs irregular returns

A

Regular return – something has happened at fertilisation
Irregular return – fertilisation has occurred but something has occurred afterwards

23
Q

What is worker fatigue and how can it be limited?

A

Farrowing rate % decreases and the number of sows per operator increases

24
Q

List the main features of a good AI area

A
  • Close to sows
  • Not near boars
  • Nose to nose contact
  • Individual insemination pen
  • Undisturbed area post insemination
  • Flow of pigs
  • Good gates/dividers
  • Storage facilities
  • Light
  • Rubbish disposal
  • Protection
25
Q

On average the number of piglets born alive is highest at which parity in pigs?

A

4th

26
Q

What are the considerations of reproductive issues on pig farms?

A
  • Chronic infertility will always be more difficult to correct
  • Infertility issues can ‘just’ appear
  • Cause is not always obvious
  • Can just resolve with time, despite interventions
  • ‘Problem’ farms exist!
27
Q

What basic questions should be asked when there are reproductive issues on pig farms?

A
  • Is this a whole group or individuals?
  • Are there differences between parities / groups?
  • Has it happened previously?
  • What have they tried treatment-wise?
  • Any changes on farm? (staff, pig flow, feed regime, environmental)
  • Any changes from suppliers? (semen, feed, gilts / boars)
28
Q

How is overall reproductive production assessed on farm - i.e. what is the target?

A

Overall production is measured by pigs born alive / sow / year
This includes born alive / sow and litters / sow / year (farrowing index)

29
Q

List some factors that influence the number of piglets born alive

A

Point of ovulation
Point of fertilization
Ability to implant
Ability to maintain through pregnancy
Survival through farrowing

30
Q

List some factors that influence the farrowing index

A

Conception rate
Final farrowing rate
Weaning to service gap
Weaning to actual conception gap
Other causes of empty days

31
Q

How can you narrow down the cause of reproductive issues on pig farms

A
  • Have we got a conception problem? (returns – regular or irregular)
  • Have we got too few piglets being born? (total born reduced – abortions)
  • Overall production is too low? (herd is not performing)
32
Q

What are the three main differentials for reproduction issues on pig farms?

A
  • Managemental (first step) – i.e. non-infectious
  • Infectious causes - Something new? Recurrence of something old?
  • Random cause / unlucky period
33
Q

List some non-infectious cases of reproductive issues in pigs

A
  • Nutrition
  • Stress: physiological, behavioural, heat, cold - Don’t vaccinate during this period
  • Quality of service & implantation period
  • Staff factors
  • Seasonal infertility
  • Herd profile
  • Sunburn / sensitisation: pain when touched on their back so don’t stand in heat
  • Mycotoxins
  • Sow / boar illness – lameness
34
Q

List some infectious cases of reproductive issues in pigs

A
  • Porcine parvovirus
  • Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)
  • Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2)
  • Swine Influenza
  • Leptospirosis
  • SMEDI viruses
  • Aujeszky’s
  • Classical Swine Fever
  • Brucella suis
35
Q

How may conceptions issues lead to reproductive problems in pigs

A
  • Have they been served? (anoestrus – silent heat – not seen)
  • Gilts: often poorly observed (age / weight / heat balance) (genetic – intersexuality – abnormal anatomy)
  • Sows: (energy balance – stress – lactational oestrus – seasonal –mycotoxins)
36
Q

If a sows regularly returns to service (multiple of 21 days- common) due to a reproductive problem, what may have happened?

A
  • Fertilisation has failed to occur (timing of service – quality of service – boar contact post AI service – boar problem – semen problem)
  • Early loss of embryos (has to be very early – incomplete involution – stress – nutrition – infection)
37
Q

If a sows irregularly returns to service (out of sync (<19d; 24-37d; 47-56d) - Less common ) due to a reproductive problem, what may have happened?

A
  • Have they actually been in-pig? Observation important and ultrasound PD is valuable
  • Loss of pregnancy (embryo loss >12d – abortion)
  • Infection (tracking endometritis – repro specific)
38
Q

Which diagnostics can be used in porcine reproductive problems?

A
  • Blood samples (difficult to interpret – paired?)
  • Abortion materials (difficult to obtain (eaten) – contamination)
  • Swabs (value questionable)
  • Maternal tissues
39
Q

Describe endometritis in pigs - and when it can occur in the cycle?

A

If bacterial in nature, hygiene is important
Cervix only open at two points of the cycle:
- Service hygiene (boar vs AI)
- Post service hygiene
- Farrowing hygiene

40
Q

How are reduced litter sizes investigated?

A
  • Is it a herd problem, or a group, or individuals?
  • Ovulation issue (genetics, nutrition, age, parity structure)
  • Fertilisation issue (service timing, service quality, boar / semen issue, nutrition, stress (before / during / after))
41
Q

What are the causes of implantation disruption in sows?

A
  • Stress is the biggest issue
  • Nutrition
  • Seasonal influence
  • Disease (localised – systemic)
  • Once day 30 is reached, most pregnancies are more robust
42
Q

List some causes that influence the number of piglets born alive/abortions in pigs

A
  • Stress
  • Parvovirus, PRRS, PCV2
  • Erysipelas
  • Leptospirosis
  • Aujeszky’s / CSF
  • Toxaemia (endotoxins – plants – mycotoxins)
  • These will also influence born mummified at farrowing
43
Q

What methods are used on farm to address and manage reproductive issues on farm?

A
  • Identify the areas to address (weaknesses – groups – corrections)
  • Altered techniques / interventions (medication? – hygiene – training)
  • Possible herd stabilization (pig flow – exposure – vaccinations)
  • Control infections (vaccination – PPV, PRRS, Ery (Lepto)
  • Strategic medication – Lepto, endometritis)
  • Gilts (introduction – age, condition, puberty, exposure, synch)
  • Sows (lactation issues, lameness, age)
  • Parities (ideal parity structure – 2nd litter drop)
  • Semen issues (boars vs AI)

Y4 FA - Pigs (10 decks)

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