Swine Terminology

Question 1

Boar

Answer 1

Uncastrated male swine

Question 2

Boar effect

Answer 2

Boar exposure to gilts causes earlier onset of puberty with some synchronization

Question 3

Breeding herd

Answer 3

Includes boars and females in stages of gestation, breeding, and farrowing

Question 4

Continuous farrowing

Answer 4

Sows (and guilts) grouped in weekly batches, use all in/all out, practiced by larger operations

Question 5

Dystocia

Answer 5

Difficulty giving birth

Question 6

Estrus

Answer 6

Readiness to mate

Question 7

Farrowing or Feeder pig operation

Answer 7

Most intensive breeding system; producer has no grow/finish floor and sells feeder pigs

Question 8

Feeder pig operation

Answer 8

Breeder sells his grower pigs to a finishing operation to grow them out to market weight

Question 9

Finishing operation

Answer 9

Buys feeder pigs and feeds them to 240 to 250 lbs

Question 10

Flushing

Answer 10

Increasing energy intake 10 to 14 days prior to estrus to increase number of ova ovulated

Question 11

Foster

Answer 11

Practice of placing piglets from mothers with too many piglets to feed adequately to mothers with extra udder space, should occur in first few days after birth

Question 12

Gilt

Answer 12

Young female swine, up to and including primiparous (1st litter) females; about 6 mos old and 200 to 220lbs

Question 13

Grower pig

Answer 13

Pig being grown out to market weight, usually takes about 16 weeks

Question 14

Hog

Answer 14

Generic term, usually applied to growing swine

Question 15

Market weight

Answer 15

240 to 250 lbs

Question 16

Meat breeds

Answer 16

Used in boar lines in cross-breeding schemes; include: Hampshire, Durac, Poland China, and Pietrain

Question 17

Mother breeds

Answer 17

Used in boar lines in cross-breeding schemes; include: Yorkshire, English Large White, Landrace, and Chester White

Question 18

Non-productive sow days

Answer 18

Days a sow is not lactating or gestational

Question 19

Pen mating

Answer 19

Boar is placed with group of sows for servicing

Question 20

Penis

Answer 20

(Corkscrew shape)
Fibro-elastic with no glans penis; the distal 5-6 cm has a counter-clockwise coil which “locks” into the cervix of the female

Question 21

Pig constipation

Answer 21

Pig production exceeds the capabilities of the facility

Question 22

Prepuce

Answer 22

A dorsal prepuce all diverticulum is present; has been incriminated in infectious processes (but without proof)

Question 23

Puberty

Answer 23

Time at which first estrus occurs ok females, usually at 6 mos of age, but depends on breed, environment, and season of the year. Puberty is more gradual in boars progressing over 5-18 mos of age from onset to full maturity

Question 24

Segregated early weaning

Answer 24

SEW, removal of pigs from mother at 10-4 days of age in order to facilitate disease management

Question 25

Service

Answer 25

Deposition of semen into the cervix of a sow or gilt. May be by “natural” boar or artificial insemination

Question 26

Sow

Answer 26

Adult female swine

Question 27

Standing heat

Answer 27

When a sow or gilt is ready to be bred, she will assume a rigid stance and maintain it through the servicing

Question 28

Weaner pig

Answer 28

From weaning up to about 40 lbs

Question 29

Barrow

Answer 29

Castrated make swine