Swine Production Medicine Flashcards
which species is the most widely eaten meat in the world?
pork
list useful by-products of swine
suede
gelatin
biologics (insulin, epi, heparin, progesterone)
xenotransplantation
list the FIVE types of swine production operations
nursery
farrow to feeder
farrow to wean
feeder to finish
farrow to finish
describe nursery operations
weaned pigs raised until 40 lbs, sold to finishing operations
describe farrow to finish
raise pigs from birth to slaughter
describe farrow to feeder
piglets born, raised, weaned, and fed until feeder weight (40 lbs), then sold to finisher operations
describe farrow to wean
piglets sold immediately after weaning (3 weeks)
describe feeder to finish
feeder pigs fed to slaughter weight, sold to processors
fed for ~4 months
the operation type will determine the…
labor needs
facility design
feed cost
population size
which operation requires the most labor and feed costs?
farrow to finish
which pig breed is known for being a “lawnmower” and does well on pasture diet?
kunekune
which operation typically uses hoop barns?
feeder to finish
most swine are raised in a ____ system
confinement/closed
describe the All In, All Out practice
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
list the main basic production stages
breeding and gestation
farrowing and lactation
explain the breeding and gestation process for swine
AI most common
gestation is 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days
how soon to farrowing is the sow moved to a farrowing crate?
1 week prior to farrowing
how long does lactation occur before piglets are weaned?
3 weeks
which CA proposition had an effect on gestation crates?
CA Prop 12
describe the basics of CA Prop 12
affects gestation crates (NOT farrowing)
requires 24 square feet per pig
can be in farrowing crate for 5 days prior to farrowing
why are environmental controls so important during farrowing?
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
when does weaning occur?
3-4 weeks
what type of feed do you introduce to piglets during the weaning process?
solid pelleted feed (creep feed)
portable spigot for water
which stage is post-wean?
nursery
how many litters co-mingle in a nursery pen?
2-3 (20-30 piglets)
describe the food transition in nursery?
move from creep feed to grain diet
what’s the weight goal during nursery stage?
40-60 lbs
which stage has a very high disease risk?
nursery
why are nursery piglets so susceptible to disease?
weaning stress
decreasing Ig from colostrum
co-mingling
diet change
describe the feeder/finisher stage
goal weight is to go from 40-60 lbs to 280 lbs
usually reach weight at 6 months
