Swine Lab Flashcards
1
Q
Pig General Features
A
- the majority of the hogs produced in the US are confinement-reared
- Midwest has highest pork production
- this is because the Midwest also produces corn, the primary feed for pigs
- the number of pigs on a farm in the US is increasing
- the number of pig farms in the US is decreasing
2
Q
Domestication
A
- much later than other livestock because they were not as easy to travel with as sheep, cattle, or horses
- certain religions (Judaism, Islam) forbid the consumption of pigs
3
Q
Dressing Percentage
A
- pig carcasses have a very high dressing percentage, typically around 75%, meaning that a 60 kg pig will produce approximately a 45 kg carcass
- this dressing percentage is higher than that of both sheep and cattle
4
Q
Yorkshire
A
- white; erect ears
- very prolific
- good maternal quality
5
Q
Hampshire
A
- black color with white belt around shoulders; erect ears
- not very prolific and average maternal ability
- excellent carcass yield
- good meat quality
- leanest breed
6
Q
Duroc
A
- red; floppy ears
- very prolific
- poor mothers (do not lactate well, etc.)
- meaty body type; best rate of gain
7
Q
Landrace
A
- white; large floppy ears
- finer bone structure than Yorkshire
- very prolific and good maternal ability
- known for confinement adaptability
8
Q
Production Cycle of Swine
A
- see lab manual pg. 80
9
Q
Farrow-to-Wean Operation
A
- breeds and farrows sows/gilts and raises baby pigs until weaning at approximately 3-4 weeks of age
10
Q
Nursery
A
- weaned pigs are raised in a nursery for about 8 weeks after weaning
11
Q
Grow-to-Finish
A
- after leaving the nursery
- pigs are raised in this facility for 11-12 weeks until reaching market weight, going to slaughterhouse at approximately 23-24 weeks of age
12
Q
Farrow-to-Finish
A
- breeds, farrows, and finishes
- no longer common in the commercial swine industry
13
Q
Purebred and Show Stock Breeders
A
- similar to farrow-to-finish, except that the animals are used primarily as breeding boars and gilts or show pigs
14
Q
Boar
A
- intact male pig
15
Q
Sow
A
- mature female pig
16
Q
Gilt
A
- young female pig
17
Q
Barrow
A
- male pig castrated before sexual maturity
18
Q
Stag
A
- male castrated after reaching sexual maturity