Swine Reproduction Flashcards
boar puberty
7-9 months
**some variation in breed and nutrition
gilt puberty
5-8 months
**some variation in breed and nutrition
boar exposure
SINGLE GREATEST MANAGEMENT TOOL TO MANIPULATE GILTS TO REACH PUBERTY
–> pheromones: submaxillary salivary glands
when to expose gilts to boars?
~5 months, 150-165 days
–> 15 minutes per day of exposure
Submaxillary Salivary Glands
converts testosterone in to pheromones at about 10 months old
estrous length
21 days avg
estrus
period of sexual receptivity
-standing heat (mount, stand with pressure)
-ear float
estrus length
2-3 days
– gilt = 40 hours
– sows = 55 hours
signs of estrus
-swelling and reddening of the vulva and clitoris
-change in vocalizations
-increase in activity
-decrease in food intake
-mucous discharge from vulva
-mounting/riding other females
-seeking boar
***gilts show more prominent signs
servicing when breeding
service two times during estrus
**DO NOT service gilts on first estrus
H.N.S.
Heat No Serve
–> do not service gilts on first estrus because of low fertility
reproductive soundness: vulva
-normal
-underdeveloped (small litter, not normal cycle)
-upward tilt (infections, natural mating problems)
-injury (can heal, but can rip)
reproductive soundness: underline
ideal: large number of teats, equally spaced, functional, mirrored
boar semen
greatest volume of semen
boar penis
-sigmoid shape (extend outside the body)
-spiral on tip (corkscrew, counterclockwise, gets into the cervix for an intrauterine insemination)
-testicles carried behind them
boar power
mating capacity of the animal
factors: age (young=less, old=less), system of mating, frequency of farrowing
A.I.
artificial insemination
- 99% of the industry today
–>can collect data easily (breed date, sire, semen quality)
Pen Mating
1 boar to 10 sows
–> data collection is difficult
Hand Mating
1 boar to 20 sows **1 boar with 1 sow at a time
–> data collection on breed date and sire
reproductive soundness: males
penis function
– persistent frenulum
– penal hypoplasia
Persistent Frenulum
connection b/w penis and prepuce
Penal Hypoplasia
inability to achieve erection
semen evaluation
appearance (milky, creamy), color (gray-white), volume, concentration, motility, and morphology
gestation length
114 days
litters per year – traditional
2.6 litter/year
**miss a cycle = decrease, wean early = increase
prior to farrowing
-move to crate at 110 days
-swelling and relaxed vulva
-development of mammary glands
stages of parturition
- dilation of cervix
- expulsion of fetuses (0-30 min b/w pigs)
- expulsion of placentas
intervention in farrowing
-check for dystocia and contractions (give oxytocin)
-sleeve
-c-section
processing piglets
-teeth clipping
-ear notching
-iron injections
-tail docking
-castration
