Swine

Question 1

When and where were the first pigs domesticated?

Answer 1

From wild boar about 15,000 years ago in Near East

Question 2

Give the latin name for the domesticated pig

Answer 2

Order Artiodactyla
Family Suidae
Genus Sus scrofa

Question 3

Give microevolutionary changes between wild boar and pig:
Ears
Coat
Conformation

Answer 3

Ears
WB: upright
Pig: droopy or upright, depending on breed
Coat
WB: thick, short, bristelled, brown, grey or black
Pig: breed specific
Conformation
WB: males tusks, short straight, compact body
Pig: small eyes, curly, kinked or straight tail

Question 4

Why are swine so temperature sensitive

Answer 4

No sweat glands

No brown adipose tissue

Question 5

What is a boar

Answer 5

Adult male

Question 6

What is a sow

Answer 6

Mature female

Question 7

What is a gilt

Answer 7

Immature female

Question 8

What is a piglet/farrow

Answer 8

Young pig

Question 9

What is a shoat

Answer 9

Young pig 50-90 kg

Question 10

What is a barrow

Answer 10

Castrated male pig

Question 11

What are pigs used for

Answer 11

Food (36% of daily world meat protein intake)
Leather
Medicine (transplants, insulin prod (not anymore))
Foraging (truffle hunting)

Question 12

Who does not eat pork and why?

Answer 12

Judaism (only ruminants)
Islam
Some fundamental Christians
Pigs are considered unclean

Question 13

What is PSE, DFD and RSN

Answer 13

They relate to the quality of the meat
PSE = pale, soft, exudative
DFD = dark, firm, dry
RSN = redish/pink, soft, non-exudative

Question 14

What is SEUROP

Answer 14

Used to determine the lean meat/carcass ratio
Superior >60%
Excellent >55%
U very good >50%
R good >45%
O moderate >40%
Poor >35%

Question 15

What parameters are used in the carcass merit?

Answer 15

Dressing %
Backfat thickness
LEA - loin eye area
Marbling
Tenderness

Question 16

What is dressing percentage in carcass merit?

Answer 16

Calculated by dividing the warm carcass weight by the shrunk live weight of the animal and expressing the result as a percentage. Shows how big part of the animal is fat/muscle and bone (intestines, head and skin is removed)

Question 17

When does a pig reach puberty?

Answer 17

5-7 months

Question 18

When is the sow first bred?

Answer 18

8-9 months or at 90-100kg body mass

Question 19

When does first farrowing happen (birth)?

Answer 19

12-14 months

Question 20

How long is a pigs gestation period?

Answer 20

114 days

Question 21

How is pheromonal effects related to the sows estrus cycle?

Answer 21

The presence of the boar at the time of insemination of the sow improves sperm transport and ovulation

Question 22

How can you improve sexual development of pigs?

Answer 22

Restrictive feeding

Question 23

What are some reprod traits of the swine?

Answer 23

Early maturity
Pluriparous
High reprod potential
Continuously polyestrus

Question 24

What is lactation anestrus

Answer 24

The sow shows a postpartum decline in ovarian cycle activity, where the prolactin suppresses the GnRH release, leading to anestrus

Question 25

What is the immobilization reflex and what is it used for?

Answer 25

It is a reflex where the sow shows acceptance of boar and mounting when in heat, can be tested by putting pressure on the back. The sow stands still.

Question 26

How long is the estrus cycle of the sow?

Answer 26

18-23 days

Question 27

How many eggs are released during ovulation and how many are lost?

Answer 27

15-20 eggs released, 10-30% die early

Question 28

What are some reasons to fetal atrophy?

Answer 28

Hereditary chromosomal abnormalities Overcrowding Incomplete nutrition (not enough contact with placental wall Diseases, heat stress

Question 29

How big is their litter size?

Answer 29

6-18 piglets, breed specific

Question 30

How can the litter size be manually increased?

Answer 30

By flush feeding, where the sow has a higher food intake prior to breeding, this releases more eggs

Question 31

What are some external symptoms of a sow being in heat?

Answer 31

``` Restless, high activity Swollen, enlarged vulva Mucus discharge Frequent urination Mounting other sows Immobilization reflex ```

Question 32

How long does a sow lactate?

Answer 32

25-60 days

Question 33

How can a pregnancy be diagnosed?

Answer 33

Rectal palpation, sonography, blood plasma estrone-sulfate level

Question 34

What hormones maintain the pregnancy?

Answer 34

Ovarian progestrone | porcine placental lactogen (pPL)

Question 35

What hormones can be used to induce ovulation?

Answer 35

eCG + hCG | GnRH

Question 36

What hormones can be used to induce estrus or synchronization?

Answer 36

Gestagens

Question 37

What hormones can be used to induce labour (organisational reasons, feks during daylight)

Answer 37

PGF2a

Question 38

How many teats does the sow have?

Answer 38

5-8x2

Question 39

How long is the period between two farrowings?

Answer 39

150-170 days

Question 40

What is the average birth weight of piglets?

Answer 40

1-2 kg

Question 41

What are some important porcine genetic muscular diseases?

Answer 41

PSS = porcine stress syndrome Progressive myopathy Tremor type III

Question 42

What are some important porcine genetic metabolic diseases?

Answer 42

``` Porphyria Hemophilia A Pseudohemophilia Obesity genes Gangliosidosis II ```

Question 43

Give three mating methods

Answer 43

Harem: groups of sows, one boar Stud/hand mating: individual AI: very common, fresh diluted sperm

Question 44

Give three types of purebreeding

Answer 44

Inbreeding Linebreeding Outcross

Question 45

What are some procedures done to piglets?

Answer 45

``` Castration Tail docking Teeth clipping (to avoid hurting the teat) ```

Question 46

What are some pros (good things) about alternative free range swine production systems?

Answer 46

The pigs have access to mud (temperature control) They have larger area to move aound They can have a relation to the young piglets

Question 47

What are some cons (bad things) about alternative free range swine production systems?

Answer 47

Less economically effective Denitrification and erotion of soil Sunburn, heat stress Pig breeds are often bred for indoor intensive pig farming