Reproduction of the pig

Question 1

optimum sow

Answer 1

Gilt – age at first mating, - 8 monthd
Litter size - 14
Pre-weaning mortality <7 days
Weaning to farrowing 115 + 5 days
(Food efficiency) 
Longevity - 6

Question 2

pigs life cycle

Answer 2

Reach puberty ~ 140 days age, 120 kg 
Mated on oestrus 
Gestation 115 days 
Lactate 4 weeks 
Return to oestrus 5 days later 
Culled after 6 parities
28 days until weanng

Question 3

gilts - selection

Answer 3

Age 
Weight 
Oestrus 
Disease status 
Litter size 
Vaccinal status

Question 4

pregnancy diagnosis

Answer 4

Non-return to oestrus
Ultrasound real time, A-mode, Doppler
hormones
Visual

Question 5

farrowing induction

Answer 5

prostaglandin

oxytocin

Question 6

farrowing induction - advantages

Answer 6

management

fostering

Question 7

farrowing induction - disadvantages

Answer 7

cost

risk of dates

Question 8

litter size

Answer 8

Total born 
Total born alive 
Still births 
Mummies 
Parity changes

Question 9

Weaning to oestrus interval

Answer 9

Oestrus detection 
Duration of oestrus 
Insemination/mating timing 
Body weight loss 
Cost of empty days

Question 10

optimum mating time

Answer 10

sperm needed in the oviduct before ovulation

Question 11

oestrus

Answer 11

lactation - 3 weeks
weaning to oestrus interval (WOI) - 6 days
oestrus - 48h
shorter WOI gives longer oestrus period

Question 12

weaning to farrowing

Answer 12

Return rates – Regular/irregular returns

Abortions

Question 13

longevity

Answer 13

culling rates

age at culling

Question 14

diseases of gestation

Answer 14

abortion
smedi
vaginal prolapse

Question 15

disease of peri-parturient period

Answer 15

Sow: uterine prolapse, Lactation. Agalactia, mastistis

Piglet Mortality.chilling, crushing, starvation

Question 16

Non-infectious causes of abortion

Answer 16

Stockmanship/hygiene
Management policies i.e. age structure of the herd
Season (heat stress)

Question 17

abortion - Specific Pathogens

Answer 17

Swine influenza 
Porcine reproductive and respiratory 
syndrome, 
leptospirosis 
Erysipelas 
Uncommon but when they do occur they 
cause severe reproductive disease.

Question 18

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.

“blue-eared” pig disease

Answer 18

Clinical signs:
Reproductive losses
increased pre-weaning mortality
severe respiratory effort in neonates (thumps)
Flu-like signs in older pigs
Blue extremities (25% die at 8% abortion/premature deaths
Economics - severe economic effects in acute phase, Chronic effects may include raised disease levels in grower pigs (immunosuppresive effects)

Question 19

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome.

“blue-eared” pig disease - treatment

Answer 19

Supportive, treat secondary pathogens
Control: Originally notifiable, now reported
throughout the UK.
vaccinate

Question 20

Leptospirosis. (L.bratislava)

Answer 20

Urine is the most common source of infection
Leptospires gain entry via mucous membranes
abortion and reproductive failiure
Risk factors; Rodents, Outdoor herds
Diagnosis - serology, dark ground microscopy, FAT
zoonotic

Question 21

Leptospirosis. (L.bratislava) - treatment

Answer 21

Antibiotic medication: Streptomycin, Tetracyclines. In theory the whole herd should be treated at one time, this rarely happens.
Recent moves towards the use of cattle lepto vaccines in pigs

Question 22

Laboratory investigations.

Answer 22

Sample at least three fetuses (and placenta if poss).

Stomach contents and /or liver. If taken aseptically may indicate opportunistic infections.

Question 23

fetal fluid

Answer 23

Transplacental transfer of antibodies does not occur: Fetus is immunocompetant after 70d
Antibodies in fetal fluids (pleural or abdominal fluid)
indicate in utero challenge and are significant.
Test for - Parvovirus antibody, Leptospira bratislava antibody, Swine Influenza
can also do antigen detection

Question 24

sow sampling

Answer 24

Positive titres.
May indicate the presence of disease within a
herd.
A significant rise in titre on paired serology may
indicate a recent infection.

Question 25

VLA Porcine Abortion Kit - tests for

Answer 25

``` Swine influenza Erysipelas Parvovirus PRRS Leptospira ```

Question 26

Variations in litters

Answer 26

Small number born (<6), embryos lost pre-ossification. Mummified foetuses/stillbirths/weak pigs of all one size. = uterine environment affected at one time (stress, fever). Mummified foetuses/stillbirths/weak pigs of differing sizes = prolonged damage to foetuses. Think infectious causes (commonly viral - parvo, PRRS, not forgetting……CSF etc)

Question 27

Marker Stages of Gestation

Answer 27

35days: mummified fetuses through to stillborn piglets. (aborted at any stage). 70d Fetus immunocompetant Full Term 112-116 days.

Question 28

SMEDI

Answer 28

``` Stillbirth Mummification Embryonic Death Infertility porcine parvovirus most common cause ```

Question 29

SMEDI - clinical signs

Answer 29

``` Full-term litter consisting of small mummified fetuses full grown stillborn live weakly piglets Rarely see abortion ```

Question 30

parvovirus

Answer 30

93% of UK herds infected Transmission - oronasal/venereal If non-pregnant become immune If pregnant (depends on stage of gestation) smedi

Question 31

parvovirus - highest risk animals

Answer 31

Naïve animal enters infected herd. Carrier animal enters naïve herd (ALL sows at risk) Piglets born to immune sows (seronegative = naïve)

Question 32

parvovirus - treatment + control

Answer 32

Treatment: None Control: Vaccination is available and is widely practised Vaccinate 8 weeks before service on first occasion and 2 weeks before for subsequent boosters.

Question 33

causes of stillbirth

Answer 33

Examine fetus to determine when death occurred. Pre partum - as for causes of abortion Intrapartum usually non-infectious Prolonged farrowing Increased litter size (most deaths in last third). Older sows, > 5 litters Overweight/emaciated sows Elevated farrowing house temperatures Mycotoxins Environmental/stress I.e small farrowing crates Occasionally infectious causes get a rapid increase in still births

Question 34

sow exam

Answer 34

``` Age Condition score Service date/ expected farrowing date recent treatments Concurrent illness Management changes Vaccination details (parvo, erysipelas) Take paired blood samples 2-3 weeks apart ```

Question 35

primary uterine inertia

Answer 35

Early cessation of farrowing or failure to start farrowing (end of first stage labour). Behavioural signs of nesting and milk may be present. No straining. Causal Factors - Lack of uterine contractility/tone.

Question 36

primary uterine inertia - diagnosis

Answer 36

Absence of straining. Cervix is dilated. No obstruction present. Lack of uterine tone.

Question 37

primary uterine inertia - treatment

Answer 37

Assist at farrowing Oxytocin 2-5iu given I/m at 30 min intervals If toxaemia/ infection is present give antibiotics and /or NSAID. Control - Allow acclimatisation to the farrowing house and staff

Question 38

secondary uterine inertia - clinical signs

Answer 38

2nd stage labour, sow is straining but no effect and may become exhausted.

Question 39

secondary uterine inertia - causes

Answer 39

``` Obstruction caused by: malpresentation two fetuses together small pelvic inlet distended bladder vaginal prolapse vulval haematoma ```

Question 40

secondary uterine inertia - diagnosis + treatment

Answer 40

Diagnosis - vaginal exam, wear gloves, hygiene. Treatment - Correct malpresentation, manually deliver fetus, Once obstruction is relieved give 1-5iu of oxytocin I/m. Caesarean? Economically justified?

Question 41

uterine prolapse

Answer 41

post-farrowing | Treatment - Euthanase or immediate on-farm slaughter. Cross foster piglets

Question 42

vaginal prolapse

Answer 42

pre-farrowing | Replace and hold in place with purse string sutures or Buhner suture. Use antibiotics to reduce swelling

Question 43

swollen/damaged vulva

Answer 43

vulva biting, trauma with dystocia, farrowing crate injury, zearelenone toxicity

Question 44

downer sow

Answer 44

Failure to rise in the periparturient period. causes: Lactation osteoporosis- fracture of pelvis/femur Muscle weakness Apophysiolysis Rupture of lesser trochanter

Question 45

downer sow - treatment + control

Answer 45

Cull if fractures present Move onto deep straw or put straw rubber matting under sow to prevent sores. Encourage movement a few times a day. Improve floor surfaces With the banning of sow stalls restricted exercise pre- partum will be reduced.

Question 46

hypocalcaemia

Answer 46

Occurs post farrowing: Recumbency, coma, death. Eclampsic form with convulsions. Rapid Response to calcium boroglutanate IV/SC

Question 47

hypocalcaemia - signs

Answer 47

Still births Retained placenta Uterine inertia

Question 48

non-functioning teats

Answer 48

``` Teat necrosis Trauma Inverted nipples (inherited) Poor mammary development. Ergot poisoning Poor water supply Poor energy levels Chronic mastitis Can protect nipples from necrosis using copydex or rubber glue ```

Question 49

agalactia

Answer 49

Failiure to let down milk: Bright and alert, particularly in gilts, failure to let down milk. Restless, will not let piglets suckle; especially gilts that are unable to relax.

Question 50

agalactia - treatment

Answer 50

single oxytocin injection calm environment for gilts. House earlier than sows to help acclimatise to the farrowing house.

Question 51

agalactia - Hot painful immature glands with normal milk

Answer 51

Can affect large numbers of the herd at one time. | May be nutritional/hormonal imbalances

Question 52

agalactia - Hot painful immature glands with normal milk - treatment

Answer 52

NSAIDs. Repeated injections (every 3 hours). Can take > 3 days to resolve so will need to supplement affected litters. Check diet and husbandry

Question 53

agalactia - ergot poisoning

Answer 53

Poor mammary development, no response to oxytoxin. | Control - Remove ergot from ration, by diluting out with normal grain, check storage facilities.

Question 54

agalactia - water deprivation

Answer 54

Empty looking dried up glands, dry chalky deposit on vulva. | Control - need up to 25-40l per day should not need to expend too much effort to get it.

Question 55

coliform mastitis

Answer 55

Anorexia, pyrexia, Loss of milk production - unhappy noisy piglets Udder is hot and swollen and may be hard around affected glands

Question 56

coliform mastitis - cause

Answer 56

Coliform bacteria. Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Morganella. Most commonly E.coli, Klebsiella Environmental pathogens

Question 57

coliform mastitis - risk factors

Answer 57

Sawdust or shaving bedding, Poorly drained solid floors Damp wet bedding Damaged teats: poor flooring, damage from piglets teeth

Question 58

coliform mastitis - treatment

Answer 58

Antibiotic treatment (potentiated sulphonamides) are required for at least 3-5 days. NSAIDs Oxytocin encourages milk flow. Supply supplementary feeding for the surviving litter

Question 59

coliform mastitis - control

Answer 59

``` Ensure clean and dry farrowing areas. Repair floors. Clip piglets teeth. Control biting flies. Check there are sufficient functioning glands for future litters ```

Question 60

mastitis (pyogenic)

Answer 60

Sow is generally well. Usually a single gland is affected hard and pendulous not hot. Often at the end of lactation or soon after weaning. Milk production is permanently lost. Staph. Strep. (also Actinomyces) Damaged floors, teat damage biting flies

Question 61

pyogenic mastitis - treatment + control

Answer 61

``` Early diagnosis may warrant penicillin injections but abscesses frequently become walled off. Repair floors Control flies clip teeth Cull sows with <10 functional teats ```

Question 62

Pyelonephritis/cystitis

Answer 62

Sudden death 3 weeks post-mating, mid pregnancy, postpartum, Haematuria, Pyrexia, Bloody vulval discharge,Fibrin, pus and blood when urinating, Inappetance, Depression, Death. actinobaculum suis found in most boar's prepuce

Question 63

Pyelonephritis/cystitis - risk factors

Answer 63

Indoor herds Higher environmental contamination. Faecal organisms.(E.coli, proteus, pseudomonas)

Question 64

Pyelonephritis/cystitis - treatment

Answer 64

Ineffective once signs are seen Very early cases. Potentiated sulphonamides. P.M.E Cystitis, ureteritis, nephritis.

Question 65

piglet mortality

Answer 65

Crushing Chilling Hypothermia Bleeding into umbilicus congenital abnormalities crushed piglets The most commonly reported cause of death in piglets. Sow factors such as lameness, lack of exercise or deafness may influence death rates. Environmental factors such as slippery floors, lack of a warm lighted creep area, lack of a farrowing crate or bars to protect piglets. Piglet Factors: splayleg, starvation, chilling any illness.

Question 66

starvation

Answer 66

piglets should suckle every 1-2h Gilts may be unwilling to let piglets suck, mastitis, sore teats, insufficient teat numbers Splayleg, any illness, weak piglets. Birth weights of <0.75kg are unlikely to live

Question 67

chilling

Answer 67

Farrowing house temperature (for piglets) should be 30°C. piglet body temp can drop rapidly and these piglets can take a long time to recover linked to low birth weights and hypoglycaemia, insufficiently warm creep areas, poor insulation and draught proofing. outdoor piglets may get trapped outside

Question 68

umbilicus

Answer 68

1 in 5 have umbilicus broken before birth resulting in bleeding from the umbilical stub. These tend to take longer to suck, piglets can die from blood loss

Question 69

carbon monoxide poisoning

Answer 69

Faulty heaters in the farrowing house can produce this odourless gas, can increase numbers of still born and cause piglet deaths

Question 70

congenital abnormalities - splay leg

Answer 70

Affected piglets do the splits with their back legs. It is considered a muscle weakness problem in adductor muscles in heavy, male piglets.

Question 71

congenital abnormalities - atresia ani

Answer 71

If a bulging mass is visible it may be possible to cut through a layer of skin and form an anus, passage of faeces maintains the opening. Many will be presented as poor pigs with large pot bellies and have to be euthanased.

Question 72

congenital abnormalities - epitheliogenesis imperfecta

Answer 72

Raw patches of flesh with skin curled up at the edges on new-born piglets. Piglets may die or recover. Must be differentiated from other pig wounds. Possibly inherited so use different boar on sow at next mating

Question 73

investigations on farm

Answer 73

Farm record analysis Identify key areas of underperformance Work out a plan for the visit Target potential causes of underperformance