Pig Husbandry (P 1-4)

Question 1

this is the world’s most consumed meat from terrestrial animals

Answer 1

pork

Question 2

in 2018-2019, half the world’s population of pigs died from this disease

Answer 2

African Swine Fever

Question 3

40% of the UK breeding herd for pork is managed under this type of production which is unusual/rare globally in commercial production

Answer 3

outdoor

Question 4

farm size for pigs is characterised by this number

Answer 4

number of breeding females

Question 5

a porker is approximately this many kg dead weight

Answer 5

30-54 kg

Question 6

a baconer is approximately this many kg dead weight

Answer 6

65-80 kg

Question 7

the oestrus cycle in pigs is this many days

Answer 7

21 days

Question 8

oestrus commonly lasts this long in pigs

Answer 8

60 hours (2.5 days)

Question 9

ovulation occurs on the second day of oestrus n pigs and this many eggs can be produced each cycle

Answer 9

12-24 eggs each cycle

Question 10

gestation in pigs is approximately this long

Answer 10

115-117 days (3 months, 3 weeks, & 3 days)

Question 11

sows will typically have this many litters per year

Answer 11

2.4

Question 12

detecting first oestrus in gilts is between these days

Answer 12

160-210 days

Question 13

young boars that are adequate in size and have strong legs can be used for natural service starting at this age

Answer 13

7-8 months

Question 14

at what day of gestation is pregnancy testing done in pigs

Answer 14

day 30

Question 15

most pig units service the sows naturally or with AI?

Answer 15

AI

Question 16

typical commercial sows give birth to this many live-born piglets per litter

Answer 16

12-14

Question 17

piglets weigh approximately this much at birth

Answer 17

1-1.5 kg

Question 18

typical live-born piglet mortality ranges from this percent per litter

Answer 18

10-12%

Question 19

piglets are weaned at approximately this age

Answer 19

4 weeks

Question 20

piglets should weigh this much at 4 weeks/weaning age

Answer 20

7-8 kg

Question 21

this is the legal minimum weaning age in the UK and EU for piglets

Answer 21

28 days

Question 22

although under the legal minimum, piglets can be weaned at this age if the health of the sow or litter are in doubt

Answer 22

21 days

Question 23

organic systems require piglets to be weaned at this age

Answer 23

6-8 weeks

Question 24

with average genetics, pigs can reach a maximum growth rate of this many grams per day at 78 kg body weight

Answer 24

970 g / day

Question 25

most pigs are sent for slaughter at 'bacon weight' of this many kg

Answer 25

100-110 kg

Question 26

farms marketing pigs through Farm Assurance Schemes are required to have a farm health plan receive a veterinary visit this often

Answer 26

every quarter (4 times per year)

Question 27

name the 5 freedoms developed by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council

Answer 27

1. freedom from hunger and thirst 2. from discomfort 3. from pain, injury or disease 4. to express normal behaviour 5. from fear and distress

Question 28

these are single-housing close confinement systems that only allow the pregnant sows to stand up and lie down. they cannot turn around

Answer 28

gestation stalls

Question 29

what is the argument for using gestation stalls

Answer 29

prevent aggression between sows when mixed after weaning

Question 30

what is the argument for using farrowing crates

Answer 30

reduce risk of piglets being crushed by sow

Question 31

the key to successful gestational housing and husbandry is to reduce this

Answer 31

stress

Question 32

name 3 sow welfare issues associated with farrowing crates

Answer 32

1. physical restriction 2. behavioural restriction via restraint 3. behavioural restriction via inadequate nest-building substrate

Question 33

name 3 piglet welfare issues associated with farrowing crates

Answer 33

1. increased risk of stillbirth 2. increased risk of mis-mothering 3. lack of enrichment opportunities

Question 34

farrowing can take between this many hours

Answer 34

2-24 hours

Question 35

there should not be a delay longer than this between piglets during farrowing

Answer 35

20 minutes

Question 36

each let-down bout of milk/colostrum from the sow lasts about this long

Answer 36

20-30 seconds

Question 37

after farrowing, let-downs of colostrum occur approximately this often

Answer 37

every 20 minutes

Question 38

colostrum is available in a sow for approximately this long postpartum before it turns to milk

Answer 38

24-30 hours

Question 39

'gut closure' occurs after this long in piglets and their gut will no longer be able to absorb Ig from colostrum

Answer 39

48 hours

Question 40

this is the limiting factor in colostrum and milk production

Answer 40

the sow

Question 41

this complex syndrome can develop in sows who are over-fed prior to farrowing and can be seen in the sows shortly after farrowing

Answer 41

MMA (mastitis, metritis, agalactia)

Question 42

what should be done with/for pathologically growth retarded piglets

Answer 42

humane euthanasia

Question 43

clipping or grinding of these is performed to prevent piglets damaging each other and the sow when scrambling to get access to the udder

Answer 43

teeth

Question 44

clipping or docking of these helps control the occurrence of tail-biting often performed latterly in the grower-finisher stages of production

Answer 44

tails

Question 45

the sow should come back into oestrus approximately this long after weaning

Answer 45

5-7 days

Question 46

this can be described as the application of measures designed to prevent the introduction of new infectious agents into livestock units and to prevent or control the spread of those diseases within the unit

Answer 46

biosecurity

Question 47

this allows incoming pigs to be kept in isolation from the main herd while any diseases they may be carrying or incubating can be detected

Answer 47

quarantine

Question 48

quarantine of new pigs should ideally be this long, but this is considered the minimum for commercial farms

Answer 48

6-8 weeks; 4 weeks

Question 49

this represents one of the biggest risks to the biosecurity of a pig unit and must be well designed with strict disease control policies - must be on the perimeter-4

Answer 49

loading bay