Swine Repro Management

Question 1

What is different about swine’s repro anatomy compared to other animals?

Answer 1

Uterine horns are extra long
Cervix is very long
Follicles are easier to see than CL on their ovaries due to clusters

Question 2

How long is the swine’s estrous cycle?

Answer 2

21 days

Question 3

How many waves of follicles do swine have?

Answer 3

a single wave

Question 4

How long are gilts and sows in estrus?

Answer 4

Gilt: 36-48hr
Sow: 48-72hr

Question 5

When does ovulation occur for swine in relation to their estrus cycle?

Answer 5

-2/3 of the way through estrus (36hr)
-Ovulation occurs 24 hours after LH peak, 42 hours after LH surge?
-Multiple follicles rupture over a 1-4 hour period

Question 6

What are some signs of Estrus?

Answer 6

Actively seek boar, prick ears, lordosis

Vulva swelling, redness, vaginal discharge, restlessness and vocalization, increased motor activity

Question 7

If a sow goes into estrus earlier what does that mean for the rest of the cycle?

Answer 7

She will stay in longer

Question 8

What effects the ovulation rate of a sow?

Answer 8

-Age - sow 18-20ova, Gilt 12-14ova
-Nutrition - higher in full fed gilt, flush
-Breed - white or maternal higher ovulation rate

Question 9

What’s the average litter size?

Answer 9

16-20 piglets

Question 10

What is the lifespan on an egg?

Answer 10

8-12 hours

Question 11

When should you AI an animal after estrus?

Answer 11

AM/PM - 12 hours Gilt
24hr - Sow

Question 12

How long is the gestation of the pig?

Answer 12

114-116d

Question 13

Pigs are CL dependent. True or False

Answer 13

True
-Can give lutylse to abort

Question 14

If there is MRP what happens to prostaglandin?

Answer 14

Intraluminal prostaglandin and prevent luteolysis

Question 15

How many embryos are needed for MRP?

Answer 15

4 Embryos

Question 16

What should you consider when selecting a healthy female hog?

Answer 16

Immune system, BCS, Healthy bones and joints, good genetics, decent data from dam

Question 17

What should you select your hogs based on?

Answer 17

Breed/genetics, feet and legs, underline and vulva size, growth parameters, age at puberty and breeding

Question 18

True or False: We may face challenges on selecting next females to be productive and prolific sows due to selection pressure we have placed on them?

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Where do you start with sow selection?

Answer 19

Genetics - lean is great but can adversely effect repro

Question 20

What are some lean growth traits?

Answer 20

Back fat thickness, feed intake, feed efficiency and days to market

Question 21

What are maternal traits?

Answer 21

Number born alive, number weaned, 21-day litter weight

Question 22

How does the mating system work in swine?

Answer 22

Purebred grandparent stock make F1 females
-Crossbreeds take advantage of heterosis

Question 23

What selection criteria are used for the musculoskeletal system?

Answer 23

Conformation and structure, feet and leg soundness

Question 24

What selection criteria are used for the Reproductive system?

Answer 24

When they reach puberty and external genitalia and underline

Question 25

What is good conformation?

Answer 25

Desirable front and rear leg structure, proper angles of the joint, good width between legs

Question 26

How is soundness of the feet evaluated?

Answer 26

Size of toe, unevenness of toes, small toes, cracks, abrasion and swelling

Question 27

What makes a good underline?

Answer 27

6-8 functional teats, with good even spacing and none inverted or underdeveloped

Question 28

What makes good external genitalia?

Answer 28

Well developed normal sized vulva
Not too small or injuries

Question 29

When should they reach puberty?

Answer 29

Gilt - 5-8 month - 100-125kg
Landrace 173d, cross earlier, durcoc 224d

Question 30

What does it mean when sows have a true lactational anestrus?

Answer 30

They do not cycle while they have piglets cause the suckling stimulus suppresses FSH and LH = no follicular development

Question 31

When you remove the piglets, how soon will estrus occur?

Answer 31

4-7 days

Question 32

What can influence the weaning to estrus window?

Answer 32

Genetics, nutrition, parity, litter size BCS, lactation length

Question 33

What is the target weight for breeding gilts?

Answer 33

300lbs with 1 recorded estrus

Question 34

When do most guilts enter puberty?

Answer 34

6 months
2/3 mature BW
Select 4-5 months and monitor growth and BCS

Question 35

What are gilts fed:
Maintenace:
Lactation:

Answer 35

5lbs coen-soybean meal

> 14-15lb daily

Question 36

When should you BCS your sows?

Answer 36

Pre-farrow and post-wean

Question 37

What vaccinations should sows receive pre-breeding?

Answer 37

Parvovirus, Leptospira, Erysipelas

3-5 week apart with last one 2 week prior to breeding

Question 38

How should you feed a guilt during gestation?

Answer 38

Dont make her overweight
-negative effect on mammary development, reduced milk, decrease feed intake, fat gilt problem during farrowing, longevity of gilt

Question 39

If a sow has to mobilize energy stores to make protein then that does what to her productivity?

Answer 39

Decreases

Question 40

What affects feed intake?

Answer 40

Parity, BCS, Crude Protein (16-18%), Feeding Schedule, Enviromental temps

Question 41

What should the weaning to estrus interval be?

Answer 41

<7 d

Question 42

What are good parameters for the following:
Farrowing rate:
Pig born alive:
pig weaned/mated:
21 day litter wei
litter/sow/ye:

Answer 42

Farrowing rate: 85%
Pig born alive: >10
pig weaned/mated: >19
21 day litter weight: >120lb
litter/sow/ye: 2-2.5

Question 43

What are some things that can help us detect estrus?

Answer 43

Breeding saddles
Boar Bot

Question 44

What drugs can we use for estrus synchronizaiton?

Answer 44

Altrenogest and triptorelin