Swine Flashcards
When and where were the first pigs domesticated?
From wild boar about 15,000 years ago in Near East
Give the latin name for the domesticated pig
Order Artiodactyla
Family Suidae
Genus Sus scrofa
Give microevolutionary changes between wild boar and pig:
Ears
Coat
Conformation
Ears
WB: upright
Pig: droopy or upright, depending on breed
Coat
WB: thick, short, bristelled, brown, grey or black
Pig: breed specific
Conformation
WB: males tusks, short straight, compact body
Pig: small eyes, curly, kinked or straight tail
Why are swine so temperature sensitive
No sweat glands
No brown adipose tissue
What is a boar
Adult male
What is a sow
Mature female
What is a gilt
Immature female
What is a piglet/farrow
Young pig
What is a shoat
Young pig 50-90 kg
What is a barrow
Castrated male pig
What are pigs used for
Food (36% of daily world meat protein intake)
Leather
Medicine (transplants, insulin prod (not anymore))
Foraging (truffle hunting)
Who does not eat pork and why?
Judaism (only ruminants)
Islam
Some fundamental Christians
Pigs are considered unclean
What is PSE, DFD and RSN
They relate to the quality of the meat
PSE = pale, soft, exudative
DFD = dark, firm, dry
RSN = redish/pink, soft, non-exudative
What is SEUROP
Used to determine the lean meat/carcass ratio Superior >60% Excellent >55% U very good >50% R good >45% O moderate >40% Poor >35%
What parameters are used in the carcass merit?
Dressing % Backfat thickness LEA - loin eye area Marbling Tenderness
What is dressing percentage in carcass merit?
Calculated by dividing the warm carcass weight by the shrunk live weight of the animal and expressing the result as a percentage. Shows how big part of the animal is fat/muscle and bone (intestines, head and skin is removed)
When does a pig reach puberty?
5-7 months
When is the sow first bred?
8-9 months or at 90-100kg body mass
When does first farrowing happen (birth)?
12-14 months
How long is a pigs gestation period?
114 days
How is pheromonal effects related to the sows estrus cycle?
The presence of the boar at the time of insemination of the sow improves sperm transport and ovulation
How can you improve sexual development of pigs?
Restrictive feeding
What are some reprod traits of the swine?
Early maturity
Pluriparous
High reprod potential
Continuously polyestrus
What is lactation anestrus
The sow shows a postpartum decline in ovarian cycle activity, where the prolactin suppresses the GnRH release, leading to anestrus
What is the immobilization reflex and what is it used for?
It is a reflex where the sow shows acceptance of boar and mounting when in heat, can be tested by putting pressure on the back. The sow stands still.
How long is the estrus cycle of the sow?
18-23 days
How many eggs are released during ovulation and how many are lost?
15-20 eggs released, 10-30% die early
What are some reasons to fetal atrophy?
Hereditary chromosomal abnormalities
Overcrowding
Incomplete nutrition (not enough contact with placental wall
Diseases, heat stress
How big is their litter size?
6-18 piglets, breed specific
How can the litter size be manually increased?
By flush feeding, where the sow has a higher food intake prior to breeding, this releases more eggs
What are some external symptoms of a sow being in heat?
Restless, high activity Swollen, enlarged vulva Mucus discharge Frequent urination Mounting other sows Immobilization reflex
How long does a sow lactate?
25-60 days
How can a pregnancy be diagnosed?
Rectal palpation, sonography, blood plasma estrone-sulfate level
What hormones maintain the pregnancy?
Ovarian progestrone
porcine placental lactogen (pPL)
What hormones can be used to induce ovulation?
eCG + hCG
GnRH
What hormones can be used to induce estrus or synchronization?
Gestagens
What hormones can be used to induce labour (organisational reasons, feks during daylight)
PGF2a
How many teats does the sow have?
5-8x2
How long is the period between two farrowings?
150-170 days
What is the average birth weight of piglets?
1-2 kg
What are some important porcine genetic muscular diseases?
PSS = porcine stress syndrome
Progressive myopathy
Tremor type III
What are some important porcine genetic metabolic diseases?
Porphyria Hemophilia A Pseudohemophilia Obesity genes Gangliosidosis II
Give three mating methods
Harem: groups of sows, one boar
Stud/hand mating: individual
AI: very common, fresh diluted sperm
Give three types of purebreeding
Inbreeding
Linebreeding
Outcross
What are some procedures done to piglets?
Castration Tail docking Teeth clipping (to avoid hurting the teat)
What are some pros (good things) about alternative free range swine production systems?
The pigs have access to mud (temperature control)
They have larger area to move aound
They can have a relation to the young piglets
What are some cons (bad things) about alternative free range swine production systems?
Less economically effective
Denitrification and erotion of soil
Sunburn, heat stress
Pig breeds are often bred for indoor intensive pig farming
