Swine Production Medicine

Question 1

which species is the most widely eaten meat in the world?

Answer 1

pork

Question 2

list useful by-products of swine

Answer 2

suede
gelatin
biologics (insulin, epi, heparin, progesterone)
xenotransplantation

Question 3

list the FIVE types of swine production operations

Answer 3

nursery
farrow to feeder
farrow to wean
feeder to finish
farrow to finish

Question 4

describe nursery operations

Answer 4

weaned pigs raised until 40 lbs, sold to finishing operations

Question 5

describe farrow to finish

Answer 5

raise pigs from birth to slaughter

Question 6

describe farrow to feeder

Answer 6

piglets born, raised, weaned, and fed until feeder weight (40 lbs), then sold to finisher operations

Question 7

describe farrow to wean

Answer 7

piglets sold immediately after weaning (3 weeks)

Question 8

describe feeder to finish

Answer 8

feeder pigs fed to slaughter weight, sold to processors
fed for ~4 months

Question 9

the operation type will determine the…

Answer 9

labor needs
facility design
feed cost
population size

Question 10

which operation requires the most labor and feed costs?

Answer 10

farrow to finish

Question 11

which pig breed is known for being a “lawnmower” and does well on pasture diet?

Answer 11

kunekune

Question 12

which operation typically uses hoop barns?

Answer 12

feeder to finish

Question 13

most swine are raised in a ____ system

Answer 13

confinement/closed

Question 14

describe the All In, All Out practice

Answer 14

ALL IN = pigs are grouped by age and brought into a unit together
ALL OUT = pigs in that group are moved to the next production stage together

Question 15

list the main basic production stages

Answer 15

breeding and gestation
farrowing and lactation

Question 16

explain the breeding and gestation process for swine

Answer 16

AI most common
gestation is 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days

Question 17

how soon to farrowing is the sow moved to a farrowing crate?

Answer 17

1 week prior to farrowing

Question 18

how long does lactation occur before piglets are weaned?

Answer 18

3 weeks

Question 19

which CA proposition had an effect on gestation crates?

Answer 19

CA Prop 12

Question 20

describe the basics of CA Prop 12

Answer 20

affects gestation crates (NOT farrowing)
requires 24 square feet per pig
can be in farrowing crate for 5 days prior to farrowing

Question 21

why are environmental controls so important during farrowing?

Answer 21

piglets have basically NO energy stores
need to keep floors heated at 90-95 degrees, heat lamps for piglets
BUT need fan on sow since she needs 65-75 degrees

Question 22

when does weaning occur?

Answer 22

3-4 weeks

Question 23

what type of feed do you introduce to piglets during the weaning process?

Answer 23

solid pelleted feed (creep feed)
portable spigot for water

Question 24

which stage is post-wean?

Answer 24

nursery

Question 25

how many litters co-mingle in a nursery pen?

Answer 25

2-3 (20-30 piglets)

Question 26

describe the food transition in nursery?

Answer 26

move from creep feed to grain diet

Question 27

what’s the weight goal during nursery stage?

Answer 27

40-60 lbs

Question 28

which stage has a very high disease risk?

Answer 28

nursery

Question 29

why are nursery piglets so susceptible to disease?

Answer 29

weaning stress
decreasing Ig from colostrum
co-mingling
diet change

Question 30

describe the feeder/finisher stage

Answer 30

goal weight is to go from 40-60 lbs to 280 lbs
usually reach weight at 6 months