Pregnancy and Parturition in Swine

Question 1

What is high rate of pregnancy failure due to?

Answer 1

Asynchronous embryo development in uterus
Inappropriate communication between mother and embryo
Embryo crowding

Question 2

Maternal recognition of pregnancy

Answer 2

Chemical signal from the conceptus (embryo and extraembryonic mem.) prevents luteolysis caused by PF2a

Question 3

e2 production

Answer 3

Doesn’t effect early maternal recognition of pregnancy or conceptus development
Causes nipple effect → failure to maintain pregnancy beyond 30 days

Question 4

Sow placenta

Answer 4

Diffuse epitheliochorial
Layers (out to in): chorion, allantois, allantoic cavity, coelom, amniotic cavity
Small diffuse microvilli on placenta

Question 5

Areolae

Answer 5

Circular chorionic and endometrial epithelium enclosing a space @ the opposite openings of uterine glands

Question 6

Significance of areolae

Answer 6

First nourishment a piglet gets
Where uterine milk collected and absorbed

Question 7

What is specific to pig placenta?

Answer 7

Necrotic tips (mummified tissue)

Question 8

Pregnancy diagnosis

Answer 8

Doppler ultrasonography (26 days)- fluid movement
Amplitude-depth ultrasonography (20-80 days)
Real-time ultrasonography (21 days)

Question 9

Prep for gestation

Answer 9

Development of mammary gland and swelling of vulva
Reduced appetite and restlessness (nesting behavior/rooting)

Question 10

When is milk present?

Answer 10

6-12 hours before farrowing

Question 11

What should be made sure before partition?

Answer 11

Good BCS
4.5-5 lb per day

Question 12

Over conditioned sows

Answer 12

More fat in birth canal (not enough space= dystocia)
Overheat faster
Don’t eat as much lactation feed or as much milk

Question 13

Underconditioned sows

Answer 13

Problems in coming back into heat after parturition
Don’t have as much milk

Question 14

Administer laxative __________ before farrowing

Answer 14

3 days

Question 15

Eutocia

Answer 15

Piglets every 20-30 minutes
10 ave #
Placenta delivered 2 hours after parturition

Question 16

PGF2a induced parturition _________ after administration

Answer 16

30 hr
may cause ↑ stillborn if sows aren’t monitored closely, colostrum quality ↓

Question 17

Early induction

Answer 17

Reduced piglet weight
2.5 lb birth weight = 80% chance of survival
1 lb pig = 47.5% chance of survival

Question 18

Dystocia

Answer 18

Oversized piglets: wrong diet @ end of gestation, genetics (pietrain)
Fetal maternal disproportion (gilts bred early)
Old sows in uterine inertia
Heat stress

Question 19

What would you do in response to dystocia?

Answer 19

PE and vaginal exam
5-10 IU Oxytocin (after 5th piglet)
Calcium gluconate 23% (30-40 mL IM)
Fetal manipulation (hook behind ears)
C-section

Question 20

Which approach should be used for a C-section?

Answer 20

Flank approach because there’s less fat and quick access

Question 21

___________ to stimulate respiration (fetal resuscitation)

Answer 21

Accordion method