Lecture 8: Swine Production Medicine

Question 1

What is the most widely eaten meat in the world

Answer 1

Pork

Question 2

What are some useful by products of swine production

Answer 2

1. Suede
2. Gelatin
3. Biological- insulin, epi, heparin, progesterone, oxytocin, melatonin
4. Xenotransplantation

Question 3

What are the 5 different swine production operations

Answer 3

1. Farrow to finish
2. Farrow to wean
3. Farrow to feeder
4. Feeder to finish
5. Nursery

Question 4

What is the farrow to finish swine production

Answer 4

Raise pigs from birth to slaughter (270-285lbs)

Question 5

What is the farrow to wean swine production

Answer 5

Piglets sold immediately after weaning (3 weeks, 12-14lbs)

Question 6

What is the farrow to feeder swine production

Answer 6

Piglets born, raised, weaned and fed until feeder weight then sold to finisher operations

Question 7

What is the feeder to finish swine production

Answer 7

Feeder pigs fed to slaughter weight, sold to processors

Question 8

What are pigs fed to achieve slaughter weight

Answer 8

Corn and soybean meal for 4 months

Question 9

What is the nursery swine production

Answer 9

Weaned pigs raised until 40lbs, sold to finishing operations

Question 10

Which operation requires the most labor and feed costs

Answer 10

Farrow to finish

Question 11

What are the 3 common housing options for swine

Answer 11

1. Pastured swine
2. Hoop barns
3. Confinement systems

Question 12

What pig breed is known for being a “lawn mower” and does well on pasture diet

Answer 12

Kunekune

Question 13

Hoop barns are generally used for what type of swine production operations

Answer 13

Feeder to finishing

Question 14

Which swine housing system is best as biosecurity practices

Answer 14

Confinement systems- temperature control, airflow, and waste management

Question 15

What is the most costly swine housing option

Answer 15

Confinement system

Question 16

What is all-in, all-out and what is the purpose

Answer 16

Common practice in swine herds

All-in: pigs grouped by age and brought into unit together

All-out: pigs in that group move to next stage together

Allows facility to be emptied and disinfected all at once—>great biosecurity measure

Question 17

What is evaluated in breeding stock

Answer 17

1. Rate of gain
2. Conformation- dystocia risk
3. # of teats

Question 18

What is the gestation length in pigs

Answer 18

3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days

Question 19

How many liters to pigs have/year

Answer 19

2

Question 20

How many piglets to a litter

Answer 20

11+

Question 21

When are gilts bred

Answer 21

29 weeks old (7 months)

Question 22

When are sows bred after last farrowing

Answer 22

1 week post weaning

Question 23

When are pigs moved into farrowing unit

Answer 23

1 week before farrowing

Question 24

How long is lactation period for swine

Answer 24

3 weeks

Question 25

When are piglets weaned

Answer 25

3 weeks

Question 26

What are some welfare debates regarding farrowing crates

Answer 26

1. Limits expression of normal behavior 2. Pressure sores 3. Arthritis 4. Lack of rubber padding

Question 27

Why do we have farrowing crates if controversial

Answer 27

Protect piglets from being squished by their mom

Question 28

What is CA-proposition 12

Answer 28

Can’t use gestation crates if you want to sell pork to California - no closures that inhibit: lying down, standing up, limb extension, and turning around - can only put pig in farrowing crate 5 days before due date 24 square feet per pig

Question 29

Piglets require environment up to __degrees F

Answer 29

90-95 degrees F

Question 30

Neonate deaths occur in the first __ days of life, usually from ___

Answer 30

4 days from crushing

Question 31

What takes place in weaning of piglet

Answer 31

1. Occurs at 3-4 weeks old 2. Introduce solid pelleted feed (creep feed) 3. Introduce portable spigot or nipple watered 4. Nursery groups

Question 32

When group do post weaning pigs go into

Answer 32

Nursery

Question 33

What happens during nursery period

Answer 33

1. Transition from creep feed/milk to grain based diet 2. Commingle 2-3 liters

Question 34

At what stage in pigs life are they are highest risk of infectious disease

Answer 34

Nursery, most stressful

Question 35

What is the goal weight to be attained in nursery

Answer 35

40-60lbs so they can go to feeder operation

Question 36

Why are piglets in the nursery so susceptible to disease

Answer 36

1. Stress from weaning 2. Decreasing Ig’s from colostrum 3. Commingling of groups 4. Dietary changes

Question 37

What is the goal weight during feeder/finisher

Answer 37

280lbs

Question 38

At what age is goal weight in pigs achieved at feeder/finisher

Answer 38

6 months

Question 39

Keys to profit

Answer 39

1. Maintain biosecurity 2. Management (breeding, nutrition, crushing/injuries) 3. Low cost feed 4. High market prices