Swine Reproduction

Question 1

boar puberty

Answer 1

7-9 months
**some variation in breed and nutrition

Question 2

gilt puberty

Answer 2

5-8 months
**some variation in breed and nutrition

Question 3

boar exposure

Answer 3

SINGLE GREATEST MANAGEMENT TOOL TO MANIPULATE GILTS TO REACH PUBERTY
–> pheromones: submaxillary salivary glands

Question 4

when to expose gilts to boars?

Answer 4

~5 months, 150-165 days
–> 15 minutes per day of exposure

Question 5

Submaxillary Salivary Glands

Answer 5

converts testosterone in to pheromones at about 10 months old

Question 6

estrous length

Answer 6

21 days avg

Question 7

estrus

Answer 7

period of sexual receptivity
-standing heat (mount, stand with pressure)
-ear float

Question 8

estrus length

Answer 8

2-3 days
– gilt = 40 hours
– sows = 55 hours

Question 9

signs of estrus

Answer 9

-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

Question 10

servicing when breeding

Answer 10

service two times during estrus
**DO NOT service gilts on first estrus

Question 11

H.N.S.

Answer 11

Heat No Serve
–> do not service gilts on first estrus because of low fertility

Question 12

reproductive soundness: vulva

Answer 12

-normal
-underdeveloped (small litter, not normal cycle)
-upward tilt (infections, natural mating problems)
-injury (can heal, but can rip)

Question 13

reproductive soundness: underline

Answer 13

ideal: large number of teats, equally spaced, functional, mirrored

Question 14

boar semen

Answer 14

greatest volume of semen

Question 15

boar penis

Answer 15

-sigmoid shape (extend outside the body)
-spiral on tip (corkscrew, counterclockwise, gets into the cervix for an intrauterine insemination)
-testicles carried behind them

Question 16

boar power

Answer 16

mating capacity of the animal
factors: age (young=less, old=less), system of mating, frequency of farrowing

Question 17

A.I.

Answer 17

artificial insemination
- 99% of the industry today
–>can collect data easily (breed date, sire, semen quality)

Question 18

Pen Mating

Answer 18

1 boar to 10 sows
–> data collection is difficult

Question 19

Hand Mating

Answer 19

1 boar to 20 sows **1 boar with 1 sow at a time
–> data collection on breed date and sire

Question 20

reproductive soundness: males

Answer 20

penis function
– persistent frenulum
– penal hypoplasia

Question 21

Persistent Frenulum

Answer 21

connection b/w penis and prepuce

Question 22

Penal Hypoplasia

Answer 22

inability to achieve erection

Question 23

semen evaluation

Answer 23

appearance (milky, creamy), color (gray-white), volume, concentration, motility, and morphology

Question 24

gestation length

Answer 24

114 days

Question 25

litters per year – traditional

Answer 25

2.6 litter/year
**miss a cycle = decrease, wean early = increase

Question 26

prior to farrowing

Answer 26

-move to crate at 110 days
-swelling and relaxed vulva
-development of mammary glands

Question 27

stages of parturition

Answer 27

1. dilation of cervix
2. expulsion of fetuses (0-30 min b/w pigs)
3. expulsion of placentas

Question 28

intervention in farrowing

Answer 28

-check for dystocia and contractions (give oxytocin)
-sleeve
-c-section

Question 29

processing piglets

Answer 29

-teeth clipping
-ear notching
-iron injections
-tail docking
-castration